The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is marking its participation in a regional meeting of Socialist International (SI) in the Dominican Republic for Latin America and the Caribbean, which was called to look at challenges and proposals for the region in a post-COVID-19 pandemic environment.

A release from the PNP Secretariat indicated that the party’s tourism spokesperson, Senator Janice Allen, as well as Horace Dalley, a longstanding member of its National Executive Council (NEC), are in attendance from June 3 to June 4 in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

The meeting will also strengthen mechanisms to advance democracy in the region and end populism and authoritarianism.

The delegates from across the region will seek consensus on a fair, regulated and humane migration policy and a citizen security model based on social justice principles to confront the growing crime rate in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Continuing, the PNP noted that many countries in the region face multiple challenges with crime and other societal issues and seek best practices to address these encounters.

The delegates, comprising governing and opposition parties across Latin America and the Caribbean, will adopt a final declaration before departing the Dominican Republic as they prepare for the SI Council United Nations in Geneva in July 2022.

The Socialist International, whose origins go back to the early fifties, has grown considerably in membership with labour, social democratic and socialist parties making up its core structures. It is now a major political force in democracies around the world, with numerous member parties leading governments or representing the main opposition force.

Currently, 34 member parties of the SI are in government.

The PNP has had a long-standing relationship with SI, dating back to the Manley era of the 1970s when he served as a vice president of the organisation under the leadership of former German Chancellor Willy Brandt.