…as COTED forum gets underwayBy Mondale SmithCARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, is convinced that a major factor that affects the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)’s competitiveness and therefore the ability to maximize opportunities; both within the single market and externally,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, is the health of the workforce.The region’s top diplomat expressed this compelling notion yesterday as the forty-first meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) got underway at the Guyana Pegasus.“Our region has consistently been recorded among the highest mortality rates related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), of any region in the Americas,Wholesale Jerseys China, with heart diseases and diabetes responsible for the greatest number of deaths.“Statistics show that half of the adult population has the presence of at least three of the four major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.”He reflected that over the last 50 years there has been an exponential rise in obesity and diet-related NCDs in the Caribbean; more than sixty percent of Caribbean adults are overweight.“An increasing cause for concern also is the rates of overweight and obesity in Caribbean children over recent decades. Seven to twelve percent of preschool-aged children in the region are estimated to be overweight or obese and up to fourteen percent of adolescents in some member states are obese.CARICOM Secretary-General,Wholesale Jerseys Online, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, delivers his address at the opening of the COTED meeting at the Pegasus Hotel yesterday.“These disturbing statistics point to the need for cross-sectoral action to address the burden of unhealthy diets and related NCDs and the impact on productivity and expenditure, both public and private.“In particular, some of the areas that lend themselves for action involving the COTED relate to mandatory nutritional labelling on all packaged foods, recommendations on measures to encourage the consumption of healthier foods and disincentives to consumption of less healthy foods.? Actions should also be taken to intensify production of and improved productivity for healthy local foods.“The seriousness of this issue cannot be overstated; this council must join this fight to ensure a healthy workforce, to boost competitiveness and productivity by reducing absenteeism in the workplace and the associated cost to the public and private purse with respect to health care. Already you have agreed to work jointly with your colleague ministers in the council for human and social development to address the increasing diet-related health and economic burden to the community.”“Guiding discussions,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has prepared a brief which sets out the need for a comprehensive,NFL Jerseys Supply, coordinated regional approach to combat this challenge.”FAR-REACHING BENEFICIAL EFFECTSDuring the three days of deliberation, the Council will focus on inter-regional trade; the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) application system; advancing regional public procurement regimes; the CARICOM Development Fund; and the state of trade negotiations amongst partners, including Cuba.Ambassador LaRocque expressed confidence that the participants have the vision and commitment to realize the obvious potential in the agenda, and that decisions made would have far-reaching beneficial effects on the Caribbean Community.Among agenda issues is a special session with the private sector, for which Ambassador LaRocque voiced his pleasure, as he has been advocating for its greater involvement in the Council. He said that the importance cannot be over-emphasized, given CARICOM’s commitment to boost growth and employment as underlined in the strategy plan.The diplomat dubbed the private sector “a critical partner with Government to stimulate economic growth in CARICOM, as it is integral to the formation of public policy for regional and national development; particularly in the areas of Production and Trade and investment as well as finance.The CARICOM Secretariat embarked on a consultancy of Caribbean export to examine the state of public private dialogue within the region with a view to developing a road towards regional economic development. Building on and in support of the work done with the work of Caribbean export, the secretariat is further working with ‘Compete Caribbean’ to define the agenda for regional climate reform”.LaRocque said strengthening the public-private linkage will require a deepening of the consultative modes currently used for engagement with the private sector.Key to facilitate this necessary dialogue, he said, is a r