Thank you Linda. Linda Eddleman, Ladies and Gentlemen is the driving force behind the Trust for the Americas,
It is great to have Minister Cecilia Velez of Columbia and other Ministers of the hemisphere and delegates join us at this luncheon,
Let me also recognize Rodolfo Fulcher, Regional Community Affairs Director Latin America and the Caribbean, Microsoft and extend our appreciation to Microsoft for the support provided so far,
By now, you all know the Executive Secretary for Integral Development, Alfonso Quinones, Ladies and Gentlemen,


As I said during yesterday’s inaugural session, I believe that this Meeting of the Hemisphere’s Education Ministers comes at an opportune time for reflection on the relationship between democracy and education in the region.

While in the Americas we have made progress in many areas, some of the socio-economic indicators make for grim reading. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), almost 30% of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean lives on less than US$2/day and because of poverty and lack of opportunity, 1 in 3 students does not enrol in high school and only 1 in 4 student proceeds to tertiary education.

I believe that Income disparity is rooted in unequal opportunities for education and jobs. This unacceptable situation sustains what some scholars call the “inter-generational transmission of poverty”.

I have stated on numerous occasions that the OAS must continue to work with its Member States to promote an integral and integrated approach to development, which combines governance, economic, social, security, cultural, environmental and technological issues.

The generation of young people now approaching adulthood is probably the most literate, numerate, multilingual and ambitious the world has seen. Young people have an inherent capacity to learn and adapt to change. They are also more technologically aware and potentially better able to compete in an increasingly globalized world.

New technology and the globalization of markets are rapidly increasing productivity. However, as productivity rises, so does the opportunity cost of leaving millions of young people unemployed and disaffected.

No doubt, using this invaluable resource provides both challenges and opportunities to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean where more than 40% percent of the population is under the age of 30.

To take advantage of these opportunities, member states have taken steps towards the adoption of specific policies in terms of trade, small and medium-sized enterprise development, access to credit, and increased emphasis on education, and training.

POETA, as you have seen in the video, represents a pilot effort by The Trust of the Americas to provide job training, supplemented by civic education to disadvantaged youth in the Caribbean and Central America.

Thanks to the unconditional support from Microsoft over the years and of organizations such as the Canadian International Development Agency and the International Development Research Centre of Canada, POETA is now a beacon of hope for many young people in the region.

POETA reflects a vision that I share – creating mechanisms to influence positive change in society by building partnerships amongst the private sector, civil society and member states to promote peaceful societies, economic progress and opportunity for all.

Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the Trust for the Americas and it’s engaged and dedicated board of directors for establishing examples of successful public-private partnerships over the last ten years. We look forward to seeing the ongoing results of these important initiatives in the years ahead.

Thank you.