(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The critical importance of tourism to the Caribbean Region coupled with the sector’s vulnerability to the negative impacts of major global crises necessitated that the Region intensified its quest for development finance to support the industry.
This view was expressed by Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite, CARICOM Secretary-General (ag) at the opening of the Annual Caribbean Tourism Summit in Brussels, Belgium on 14 March 2011.
CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Predictions by World Travel and Tourism Council suggest that by 2021, the direct contribution of travel and tourism to Caribbean Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be 16.4bn Euros.
The Council also predicted that the sector’s wider economic impact on the Region will be 50.83 billion Euros and its total contribution to employment is projected to be 2.76 million jobs.
It is my privilege to bring you greetings and deliver brief remarks on behalf of the CARICOM Secretariat, on the occasion of this CICAD-CARICOM Regional Meeting with Caribbean Universities on the Drug Phenomenon.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), at the just concluded Twenty-Second Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, re-emphasised their commitment to Haiti.
CARICOM leaders at the Summit, held in Grand Anse, Grenada, signalled that the Community’s support to Haiti remained “strong,” as the country emerged from the rubble of the 12 January 2010 earthquake and the recent outbreak of cholera.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has made another impassioned plea to the international donor community to make good on their pledges of assistance towards the reconstruction of Haiti.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government have indicated their support of Haiti’s proposal to Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) and Confederation of North Central American and Caribbean Associations of Football (CONCACAF) for special consideration to contest the under-17 World Cup finals.
CARICOM Heads of State and Government recalled that at their Meeting in July last year, they bemoaned the lack of progress in the implementation of the Haiti Action Plan and called on the international donor community to make good on the pledges and promises made to Haiti. This they saw as critical for the Government of Haiti to begin to provide durable shelter for the internally displaced persons, remove the rubble and replace and augment the institutional capacity of the Government to make good on its responsibilities.
Mr. Chairman, Honourable Tillman Thomas, Prime Minister of Grenada
Your Excellencies, the Presidents of Guyana and Suriname Other Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community Honourable Ministers Delegates Representatives of the Media Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
I am sure I speak for all my colleagues in expressing appreciation to Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, the government and people of Grenada for the warm hospitality we have received and the fine arrangements that have been made for this conference. Grenada is the spice island of the Caribbean but it is much more than that and we are enjoying all that this piece of paradise has to offer.
I offer my congratulations to Prime Minister Thomas on assuming the chairmanship of CARICOM. In his calm and steady hands the leadership of our movement is in steady hands.