bvc_june2017

18 19 OPENING LINES nomic development; international trade; pro- duction, productivity and management; natural resources and infrastructure; and statistics. “We are totally committed to the Caribbean and we advocate so that their nations are not unjustly qualified as middle-income countries, a situation that complicates their access to financing,” Bárcena stated. The senior United Nations official indicated that special attention should be paid to the triple vulnerability that Caribbean territories suffer,which is manifested in the fact that they are deeply affected by climate change, they have difficulties financing their econ- omies, and they are burdened with a high public debt,which totals 70 percent of the sub-regional gross domestic product (GDP) on average. For that reason, she highlighted ECLAC’s proposal to reduce the debt of English-speak- ing Caribbean island states, which consists of forgiving part of their debt to create a resilience fund that allows for financing climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. “We are ready to help you.We want to know what your needs are to provide assistance for overcoming the problems that affect the Caribbean today,” Bárcena stressed. Along with thanking ECLAC for the work it has done and will continue doing to foster the well-being of Caribbean inhabitants, Rowley said that it is important to ensure that polit- ical decisions are based on reliable data and information.That explains the relevance of hav- ing independent statistics institutes, such as the National Statistical Office of Trinidad and Tobago. He recognized that the debt problem is a challenge for countries of the sub-region and for that reason he urged that ECLAC’s proposal be promoted at the highest level, especially among the heads of state of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). “ECLAC’s work is funda- mental in order for governments in our region to choose the most suitable public policies for their population,” Rowley emphasized. In terms of energy, the Prime Minister recog- nized that his country is living through a “per- fect storm,” since on top of declining production of oil –one of the economy’s main products – there has also been a drop in the price of com- modities, creating a situation that has affected economic growth. “For that reason, the advice and counsel that ECLAC can give us to diversi- fy our economy will be vital for deciding what course of action we must take,” he stressed.