WILLEMSTAD – The Latin American and Caribbean Parliament officially opened a multi-day meeting on Curaçao on Wednesday, marking the first formal gathering of the organization’s newly created Caribbean-focused commission.
Delegations and parliamentarians from several countries, including Aruba, Argentina, Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, Panama and Uruguay, gathered on the island for the sessions centered on regional cooperation and Caribbean geopolitical issues.
PARLATINO delegates
The main focus of the opening day was the formal installation of the new commission for Caribbean geopolitical affairs, which is expected to play a coordinating role on matters affecting Caribbean countries within the regional parliamentary body.
The installation ceremony took place in the presence of representatives from the Parliament of Curaçao and PARLATINO leadership, including PARLATINO president Rolando González Patricio.
During the opening, officials also outlined the composition of the new commission, which includes representatives from Curaçao across different political parties.
The creation of the Caribbean commission follows earlier discussions within PARLATINO aimed at giving greater attention to issues unique to Caribbean territories, including climate change, sustainable development, economic vulnerability and regional cooperation.
Following the official opening, several days of committee meetings and consultations are scheduled to take place in formal sessions on the island.
The program is expected to conclude Thursday afternoon with working visits to several Curaçao locations, including projects linked to utilities and the mining sector.
PARLATINO, founded in 1964, serves as a regional inter-parliamentary organization bringing together legislatures from Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss common political, economic and social challenges.