​(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) It is my pleasure to welcome you to this Second Forum on Donor Co-ordination and Aid Effectiveness.

In so doing I wish to express the Community’s on-going solidarity with the Government and people of Japan as they continue their struggle to come to terms with the effects of the disastrous earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant leaks. At the same time I am certain that the splendid performance of their successful World Cup women’s football team would have brought joy to the nation. Congratulations!

This is the conclusion of a two-part interview with former Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton. Part one was published on Sunday, July 10.

DR Christopher Tufton remembers taking heavy flak for the sugar industry divestment programme and the introduction of the Farmers' Markets during his tenure as agriculture and fisheries minister but remains convinced that his actions were justified.

In fact, he marks both projects as among the Government's major achievements that have respectively saved jobs and given consumers and farmers options.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has been selected to serve as the seventh Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) by the Heads of Government. Ambassador LaRocque, 56, a national of Dominica replaces His Excellency Sir Edwin Carrington of Trinidad and Tobago.

Ambassador LaRocque is the current Assistant Secretary-General for Trade and Economic Integration at the CARICOM Secretariat, having served in that post since September 2005.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) End violence against women was the clear message that resonated with speakers at the opening ceremony of the Caribbean artistes UNITE-ing against Gender Based Violence workshop in Paramaribo, Suriname on Monday, 18 July, 2011.

The workshop was organized in tandem with UN Women to train Caribbean artistes to raise awareness on gender based violence and promote positive attitudes and behaviour towards a more gender sensitive community through the use of edutainment.

​Today is for me, and I would hazard, for all of us here, an occasion charged with mixed emotions, those of sadness but also those of satisfaction.

It is always a sad occasion to say farewell to someone; it is all the more so, when the object of these sentiments of “fare thee well” is a person of such stature to whom the Caribbean Community will remain indebted.

The satisfaction comes from celebrating a job well done in Your Honour’s guiding a new regional institution along the path towards excellence and high esteem.

​A pleasant afternoon to you and a warm welcome to the opening of the CARICOM-UN Women Workshop with Caribbean Artists UNiTE-ing against Gender Based Violence. I have the pleasure of welcoming you on behalf of the Acting Secretary General of the Caribbean Community – Her Excellency Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite.

​Message delivered on behalf of Dr Rosina Wiltshire CARICOM Gender Advocate At the Caribbean Artists Uniting against Gender Based Violence Workshop,  18 July 2011,  Paramaribo, Suriname

​Ladies and Gentlemen, good afternoon_ Let me on behalf of the UN Women Regional Programme Director (RPD) Ms. Roberta Clarke, extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of Suriname, to the Representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Culture present today for your partnering with UN Women and CARICOM Secretariat for the hosting of this workshop, which we expect will be a very engaging and significant stimulus in our efforts to end gender based violence.

Message delivered on behalf of Dr Rosina Wiltshire CARICOM Gender Advocate At the Caribbean Artists Uniting against Gender Based Violence Workshop,  18 July 2011,  Paramaribo, Suriname