Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller says The PetroCaribe Agreement has a significant role to play in the security of energy for the future and the socio-economic development of Jamaica and the region.

Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller

She was addressing a plenary session ahead of the ceremony to celebrate tenth commemorative summit of The PetroCaribe Agreement.

Prime Minister, Simpson Miller says this summit marks another opportunity for Latin American and Caribbean countries to recognise the achievements of the accord that has helped to fortify regional economies and meet many of the social and economic development needs of our people.

She says had Jamaica and the other 18 regional governments refused The PetroCaribe Arrangement in 2005, some of the most vulnerable countries in the region would have succumbed to the global economic crisis in 2008.

Mrs. Simpson-Miller also says Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro and the people of Venezuela keep intact The PetroCaribe Agreement even as economic challenges in Venezuela increased over the last two and a half years, since the death of former president Hugo Chavez.