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Saturday 25 april 2020

The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC):

COVID-19 Pandemic puts us at a civilizing crossroads

PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD — The the National Scientific and Techni- for a debt standstill for all countries, fidence that regional integration
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic cal Research Council (CONICET) especially middle-income ones, is the best option for confronting
puts us at a civilizing crossroads: and the Latin American Faculty of because the majority of them this crisis through the creation of
either we return to a globalization Social Sciences (FLACSO) in Argen- do not have the wherewithal to production networks and the di-
of concentration that is authoritari- tina. cope,” she stated. versification of suppliers in terms
an and to the same institutional de- In her remarks, ECLAC’s Executive ECLAC’s most senior representa- of countries and companies, privi-
sign, or we build a different future, Secretary affirmed that the world is tive added that to build a civilizing leging locations that are closer to
Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secre- facing a global public evil, similar future, countries must ensure that consumption markets and relocat-
tary of the Economic Commission in magnitude to climate change, people have a universal basic in- ing strategic production-related
for Latin America and the Caribbe- which demands that health be come for citizens which, if it were and technological processes in the
an (ECLAC), stated recently during protected. To achieve that, she equivalent to an extreme poverty region.
a virtual seminar organized by the said, it is necessary to call for a dif- line, would not cost more than 2% “After this crisis, the global econ-
Carolina Foundation of Spain. ferent kind of multilateralism, which of GDP. If sights were set a little omy will be regionalized around
addresses the dimension of the cri- higher and income equivalent to three poles: Europe, North Amer-
The event entitled Multilateral Ac- sis we are experiencing. a poverty line was contemplated, ica and Asia. Latin America and
tion in Ibero-America in the Face of Alicia Bárcena urged for a radical the cost would reach 4.7% of GDP, the Caribbean cannot continue
COVID-19 was moderated by Cris- reformulation of North-South rela- a figure below the 6.3% of GDP depending on the United States at
tina Gallach, the Spanish govern- tions and for moving towards a represented by tax evasion in the a time when that country is not in
ment’s State Secretary for Foreign new and more democratic multi- region. cooperation mode.
Affairs and for Ibero-America and lateralism that can truly respond to “The State’s fiscal scheme must be We number nearly 650 million in-
the Caribbean. Along with Alicia this crisis and to the scenario that changed, let’s put public resourc- habitants and we can protect
Bárcena, other participants includ- will follow the COVID-19 pandem- es into shoring up income. The ourselves to be able to manage
ed Sebastián Nieto, Head of the ic. most important thing to do in this the external shocks the region is
Latin America and Caribbean Unit “The multilateralism that exists now emergency is to protect income, experiencing, make new industries
within the Development Center is insufficient because it proposes we must protect workers and those viable, and promote networks for
of the Organization for Economic the same solutions as always, offer- who are most vulnerable, includ- production and technological re-
Cooperation and Development ing bilateral responses and not a ing women, who represent 71% search among countries and sub-
(OECD); Andrea Costafreda, from truly collective solution. Just as the of health sector workers,” she sus- regions,” she concluded. More in-
the organization Oxfam Intermón; United Nations Secretary-General tained. formation: https://www.cepal.org/
and Pablo Nemiña, an expert from António Guterres said, I am calling Alicia Bárcena also expressed con- en. q

Aruba to me

ORANJESTAD — Aruba Today is always connected to our beloved followers and read-
ers, many of them from the U.S, Canada, Latin-America and Europe. We welcome
you to send us your thoughts and share with us your experiences during this hard times
where we wish you were here and we imagine that you would love to enjoy our tropi-
cal paradise right at this moment.

Today we would like to share with you a beautiful message from Fernando Ariel Iu-
dica, Argentina:

And another amazing message and picture from our be-
loved visitors:
“We are so proud how of Aruba has secured the health
and safety of its citizens, ensuring a safe country for all to
enjoy. My beautiful wife Maria and I love Aruba. We have
been coming here since 2005 where we first celebrated
our honeymoon. This summer we were going to celebrate
my one year anniversary of my kidney transplant. My wife
donated her kidney to me on May 30, 2019. The sights and
sounds of Aruba helped me during my recovery. Hopeful-
ly soon we will walk on your beautiful beaches and have
the sun kiss our faces once again.”
“Aruba for me is perhaps what some call "their place in the world", something I do not want
to say for fear of not being able to fulfill my dream of being there every day and waiting
for the night to come, it is my yesterday, today and tomorrow, It is the conjugation of air, Respectfully,
earth and water.” Tomas Hinojal