(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) His Excellency Desiré Delano Bouterse, the President of Suriname has called for a new beginning to the regional movement.

Delivering an address on Thursday at the Opening Ceremony of the 23rd Inter-sessional Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government, President Bouterse said CARICOM was at a rare historical moment “when we are called upon to make new beginnings.”

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The 23rd Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), should be remembered as the initiator of the era of change in the Community.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Outgoing CARICOM chairman, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, the Hon Dr Denzil Douglas, on Thursday morning, made a strong call for the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community to take action now!

The St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister was addressing CARICOM Heads of Government and their delegations at the Opening Ceremony of their 23rd half-yearly Meeting, in Paramaribo, Suriname.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) All three speakers at the Opening Session of the 23rd Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) paid tribute to the women of the Region as the opening day of the meeting coincided with the observance of International Women’s Day, 8 March.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community Secretariat dovetailed the half-yearly meeting of CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government to launch a variety of creative products that it intends to use in a public education campaign against Gender-Based Violence.

And what opportune time to build awareness on violence against women but on March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD 2012)!

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Regional Sports Academy will be launched at the Twenty-Third Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which begins in Paramaribo, Suriname on Thursday 8 March 2012.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Health Leadership Institute (CHLI) will hold its graduation ceremony for the fourth cohort of its Leadership Training Programme on Wednesday 7 March 2012. The event will take place simultaneously via videoconferencing sites across the Caribbean.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) When Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government meet in Suriname next week Thursday and Friday for their 23rd Inter-Sessional Conference, it is to discuss a crisp agenda, which has among its priorities, the Landell Mills review of the CARICOM Secretariat and the strategic direction of the 15-member Community.

SURINAME: Professor Gregory Rusland, Minister of Natural Resources,

The CARICOM Secretariat has to look for the major expertise within the region, and not try to re-invent the wheel, but try to make use of the expertise that exists in Suriname, in Trinidad and other areas of the region. Try also to make use of those structures in order to support the countries that are in lesser position than say the larger Caribbean countries where energy is concern.