Italy could deepen regional role post-Brexit, says special envoy
Published:Monday | November 26, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Italian Special Envoy for the Caribbean Roberto Natali says that his country would be ready to increase its support for regional governments should the European Union ratify a Brexit deal with Britain.
"We cannot replace Britain fully in terms of all the ties that they have with the Anglophone nations, but should they eventually leave the Union, I don't see why Italy would not be here for Caribbean countries, including Jamaica," Natali said.
He told The Gleaner that the Italian government takes its bilateral relations with the Caribbean region seriously.
Italy has been active in the Caribbean and has bolstered its presence with a 2015 memorandum of understan-ding that gives regional states the opportunity to access funding in a number of projects, which could act as a springboard for further involvement.
"What I know is that Great Britain, in any case, will be aside, and Italy, of course, would be happy, if necessary, to be there for Caribbean countries. For the moment, though, we should not forecast what will happen, but, of course, something is moving in Europe and the world, and it's a moment of big change, so it's important to be alert and remain agile around all the things that could happen," he said.
The special envoy said that Italy would continue utilising bodies such as CARICOM and the Association of Caribbean States to interface with regional governments while seeking opportunities to expand bilateral ties as well as forge new avenues for assistance in areas such as climate change.