4/5/2009

National Coordinator of the National Secretariat for the Fifth Summit of the Americas, Ambassador Luis Alberto Rodriguez is chairing the meeting of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) from March 10-13, 2009 in Washington, D.C.

The SIRG, which is the political and negotiating body responsible for follow-up on Summit mandates, coordinating the Summit agenda, and preparing for future Summits, will discuss pending paragraphs of the Draft Declaration.

Representatives will review the pillars of the Declaration which relate to the theme of the Summit, "Securing or Citizens' Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability" as well as issues of strengthening public security and democratic governance.

During a recent meeting with the President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Professor Compton Bourne, Ambassador Rodriguez reminded him that "a key element of the Declaration is the implementation of the commitments made by hemispheric leaders".

He added that negotiators were very close to arriving at consensus on the 66-paragraph document, which is relevant and responsive to the needs of the 800 million people of the Hemisphere and would make a positive difference in their lives.

In response, Professor Bourne commended the National Secretariat for engaging a wide cross section of the society in the Summit process. He said the Caribbean Development Bank was pleased to be associated with the Civil Society Forum which he described as "an important way of engaging elements of the society".

The CDB is sponsoring the Civil Society Forum which takes place in Port of Spain from April 15-17, 2009 and will focus on the theme, "Social Innovation....citizens in motion".