CARICOM shocked over assassination of former Japan PM Shinzo Abe
Messages of condolences have been pouring in from Caribbean leaders and organisations following the assassination of the former Prime Minister of Japan, the Honourable Shinzo Abe.
The Conference of Heads of Government and the entire Caribbean Community (CARICOM) says it is shocked and saddened by the assassination.
In a statement, CARICOM says Abe is well remembered in the Caribbean Community as, in 2014, he became the first Prime Minister of Japan to visit the region and meet with Heads of Government, taking to a new level the political engagement between CARICOM and Japan.
It was during that visit the Prime Minister signalled Japan’s support in recognising the vulnerability of Small Island and low-lying coastal Developing States (SIDS) and expressed Japan’s willingness to take into consideration issues other than GDP per capita as criteria for determining the provision of official development assistance.
It was Prime Minister Abe who, during the Summit in Port of Spain, reset CARICOM-Japan relations by outlining his country’s three-pillar Policy towards the Community. These are cooperation towards sustainable development, including overcoming vulnerabilities particular to small island states; deepening and expanding bonds founded on exchanges and friendship; and cooperation in addressing challenges in the international community.
CARICOM says it highly appreciates Abe’s significant contribution to enhancing relations between the Region and Japan.
CARICOM has extended its deepest condolences to the family of Abe and the Government and People of Japan on the death of their longest-serving Prime Minister and a man. The latter made great efforts to reshape his country and its place in the world.
Caribbean leaders have also been sharing condolences on the horrible event.
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