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COUNTERPART WORLD LEADERS TO ADDRESS TOURISM FUTURE |
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From left: Senator Allen Chastanet of St. Lucia; Paul Pennicook of
Air Jamaica; President Leonel Fernández of the Dominican Republic and
BET J's Paxton Baker.
Photographs by Margot Jordan
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NEW YORK (September 25, 2007) – Caribbean countries Dominican Republic and
St. Lucia have plans to address the sustainability of the Caribbean's tourism
industry following the 2007 World Leadership Awards, produced by Counterpart
International in New York City last week.
Lelei LeLaulu, president of the nongovernmental organisation, confirmed that two
of the five honorees President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernández,
and Senator Allen Chastanet of St. Lucia, the current Chairman of the Caribbean
Tourism Organisation, are considering a pan-Caribbean tourism strategy to use
the region's multi-billion dollar tourism revenues to combat poverty.
LeLaulu said Counterpart was delighted that its laureates were "not sitting on
their laurels but were actively assembling action plans to increase the value of
tourism to all stakeholders, including local communities."
Regional marketing, Caribbean competitiveness, carbon footprints and tourism
linkages, agreed LeLaulu were some of the key issues the two leaders are
expected to explore in the months ahead. Counterpart International and the
Dominican Republic's Global Foundation for Democracy and Development would be
involved.
Senator Chastanet, St. Lucia's Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, and
President Fernández joined Paxton Baker, Executive Vice President and General
Manager of BET J and BET Digital Networks, and President of BET Event
Productions; Public relations legend, David Finn, Cofounder and Chairman of
Ruder Finn; and the Caribbean's largest carrier Air Jamaica in receiving
Counterpart International's 2007 World Leadership Awards in New York City last
Wednesday.
"Integrating the Caribbean's tourism players is now an urgent priority," said
Senator Chastanet, who thanked Counterpart for facilitating the exchange with
President Fernández. "The President is a sharp, visionary leader who can assist
us in regional efforts for self-determination and sustainable development by
embracing our cultural diversity and languages," said Chastanet, who had high
hopes for the future of Caribbean tourism with sensible leadership and concrete
action.
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Addressing patrons at the Counterpart gala, President Fernández said, "The
Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, all of our countries are trying
to make a comeback (from the influence of European colonialism) and integrate
ourselves into the global economy through tourism, through foreign direct
investments, through the promotion of information and communication
technologies, through trade.
"Through different ways, we are trying to make a comeback and integrate
ourselves into the rest of the world – no more through slavery, no more through
exploitation; it is now through pride, through a sense of dignity, through a
sense of recognition of cultural identity. I think we as brothers and sisters
can keep on this path, and I know the values of democracy, peace and social
justice are no more a dream or utopia."
Counterpart International, founded in 1965, gives people a voice in their own
future through smart partnerships, offering options and access to tools for
sustained social, economic and environmental development. Operating on five
continents, Counterpart is supported by the generosity of its corporate and
individual donors, foundations, host countries, multilateral institutions and
several U.S. government agencies
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