MEMO ABOUT SOME NOTES TO TAKE IN CONSIDERATION "Towards the realisation of a united and integrated Africa and its Diaspora: M Shared vision for sustainable development to address Common challenges." Date: September 17, 2008 Regarding the Workshop, Technical Working Group August, 27-29 2008 Sun City, South Africa Organised by the South African Government in cooperation with the African Union I realise that there was not enough time to go into deep discussion about some aspects/terminology as well about the political & judicial implication of the content of some language in some parts of the Draft Declaration during the Workshop that has took place on the aforementioned date. I realise too that decisions about the content of the Draft has already been taken, nevertheless I would bring some issues under your attention to reconsider. 1) About the beginning of the Declaration Referring to the first sentence of the Draft "we..... of the African Union the Caribbean..." If the purpose is to reach agreement with the members of Carricom States it is wise to mention "Carricom" in stead of "Caribbean". Caribbean is more than Carricom. If the purpose is to include states in South and Central America who are or are not members of Carricom the term Caribbean (as political entity) is not inclusive. Argument 1: realise that not all Countries in the Caribbean are politically "independent". For instance when it concerns Foreign Affairs aspects, Guadeloupe and Martinique, respectively. The Dutch Antilles (Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, St Maarten & St. Eustacius) to mention some of the states, are still under the "CROWN/Colonial power" so to speak, of France respectively the Netherlands. While in all these countries we can find a major part of African descendants. Argument 2: Republic Suriname and Guyana are both geographically based in South America and not in the Caribbean while they are members of Carricom. Argument 3: Not in all countries in the Caribbean where we can find a majority of African Descendants/diasporas who involved in the AU 6'� Region Development are members of the Carricom.