The de-risking of the reporter banking relationships are very essential to the Caribbean because global monetary banks have been crucial not just to domestic economy however in its link to the international economy. Some services have currently been choked off and there must be a way for us to discover an initiative that integrates the security objectives which we subscribe to, and also at the same time, permit monetary intermediation such as trade financing, transfers of revenues, financial obligation payments, et cetera, to continue. Third, security. The small states of the Caribbean discover it really hard to compete with transnational criminal offense linked to narcotics trafficking, international terrorism, cybersecurity, et cetera.
has actually done an exceptional task in supporting these nations, but I believe there is space to do more in the interest of our mutual security. Security these days can only be defined as worldwide and can just be responded to by cooperation amongst countries. Fourthly, in the trade location there are some good legislation in place for trade. Nevertheless, much of the Caribbean nations are now service oriented nations and we need to analyze possibilities for promoting mutual and helpful worth chains which integrate U.S. and Caribbean in services such as healthcare, education, and back workplace assistance. I think by combining the skills on Capitol Hill with a few of the human resources in the Caribbean, these firms can remain competitive both here and in the U.S - How long can i finance a used car.
The Caribbean countries are coastal societies. Infrastructure, financial activity, population, the building environment are all focused on a narrow strip on the coast, even for those countries which are not islands, for instance, Belize and Guyana. It suggests that they are among the most susceptible countries to climate modification. More resources need to be offered in a more available way to reduce environment modification and to help these nations in making it through. And I point particularly to the traveler industry which is seriously depending on the quality of that instant coastal strip. Finally, energy (How to owner finance a home). The Caribbean, bar the exceptions of Trinidad Visit website and Tobago, depend heavily on importation of energy.
Solar, wind, and thermal all have possibilities, and to shift the production of electricity which is among the greatest expense worldwide onto energy in less costly sources. That would serve to restore a whole range of economic activity, consisting of manufacturing. How long can you finance a used car. And I conclude, Mr. Chairman, by stating that all of these are interrelated elements that require to be dealt with. If we could resolve them in one general initiative led by the U.S. and including the development of financial institutions, I believe that they enhance each other and it is time for a new vibrant initiative in U.S. policy toward the Caribbean.
[The ready declaration of Mr. Bernal follows:] [GRAPHIC( S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT] ---------- Mr. Duncan. Well, thank you so much for making the effort to be here. Mr. Meeks has actually agreed we are going to skip over him and go to the previous chairman of the full committee, Ms. Ros- Lehtinen, for 5 minutes. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you so very much and I excuse coming late. And we have another hearing which I am chairing on Syria, but thank you, Chairman Duncan and Ranking Member Sires, for holding this important hearing. And I do not think that we can talk about U.S.
Venezuela established Petrocaribe in 2005 to help affect many nations in the hemisphere and as much as this point the method has worked. Nevertheless, now we see the collapse of the Venezuelan economy due to the fact that of the incompetence of the Maduro routine. So it provides the U.S. an opportunity to fill that space, and this is where we need the State Department and the Department of Energy to be incredibly focused on this effort right now since it remains in our nationwide security interest to collaborate an energy option; a technique so that less nations in the Western Hemisphere would depend on an extremely undependable Venezuela.
And I think that we have got to be dealing with our partners, our allies in the Caribbean to help them take advantage of the abundant and low-cost natural gas and the brand-new innovative clean wind and solar innovations offered. By doing this we strengthen our partners' economies, we buffer the area from the effects of Venezuelan collapse and take realistic steps towards decreasing carbon emissions. So the crisis in Venezuela may trigger an oil supply interruption. What impact would such a disruption have on the Caribbean nations? Mr. Bernal. My colleagues are determined to make certain I bring a fair share of the load.
Thank you for that. The relationship with Venezuela is a long and complicated one. Venezuela started the Petrocaribe at a time when numerous Caribbean nations were truly extremely stretched financially and truly required some help. However, the relationship has its complexities. For example, Venezuela declares a very big share of Guyana which belongs to the CARICOM group. It also has actually extended its claims in regards to seaside waters based upon an island nearly 400 miles far from Venezuela and mainland, so that the relationship is not all the Caribbean benefiting from some financial backing. I think we are at a point where the relationship is going to end up being very unpredictable because of no one knows exactly what will take place in the Caribbean with Venezuela.
Several Caribbean nations are thinking beyond Petrocaribe since they do not presume that it will continue in its present kind and they have to be considering alternatives. This creates a juncture in which brand-new initiatives, including from the U.S - Which of these arguments might be used by someone who supports strict campaign finance laws?. in energy, would be extremely welcome in the region. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you quite, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Sires. Thank you. Mr. Duncan. Well, thank you. Thanks for taking some time to diminish here. The Chair will now go to Mr. Meeks. Mr. Meeks. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you for being here, and good to see all of you who, you understand, we rely upon quite with your competence and since the Caribbean is very crucial, I think.
It is truly, you understand when you take a look at our hemisphere and we have actually got to ensure that we enhance and interacting. And I hear my coworkers in concerns to particularly Petrocaribe, however I think that the issues that are facing a lot of the islands-- and I observe, for example, Mr. Ambassador, you listed as number 6 in order of priority the energy crisis, et cetera, in attempting to ensure. So I wish to search for out as it relates to the islands themselves the things that are most pushing with them that would assist them overall with their economy, due to the fact that I know, for instance, you can't just rely on tourism or you can't just depend upon, you understand, they have the diversity of it needs renting your timeshare to be there.