Permit me to begin these brief opening remarks to the Seventeenth Meeting of the Ministers of the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) by thanking the Outgoing Chair for the outstanding leadership which she gave to CARIFORUM during her tenure. As Secretary-General of both CARICOM and CARIFORUM, I had the opportunity and privilege to work closely with her. I derived great satisfaction and pride from that very fruitful and constructive working relationship.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)   The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is distressed and extremely saddened by the deadly effect of the cholera epidemic currently ravaging the people of its Member State, Haiti.

CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana  -   A Draft Regional Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) Strategy, designed to create a Single ICT Space for the Region is under review at the Fifth Meeting of the Regional Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Steering Committee in Barbados.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- The multi-faceted role of the agriculture as a main driver of the regional economy was underscored recently, as experts in the field of agriculture and trade gathered in Georgetown, Guyana, to review the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Common Agricultural Policy (CCAP).

The policy was created to assist member states in agricultural policy formulation, planning, implementation and the monitoring of national policy processes.

​Salutations

Her Excellency the Governor General Colleague Ministers His Excellency Dr. Edwin Carrington Ladies and gentlemen

On Wednesday this week, several of us, representing the people and governments of many Caribbean nations, gathered in Barbados to pay tribute to an outstanding son of the region, who sadly has passed on.

This morning we gather here to pay tribute to another outstanding Caribbean son. Happily, this time, we are doing so while he is alive.

​It was only a few months ago, I sat here as the stand-in-chair of the Council in place of my colleague from Trinidad and Tobago and directed the meeting on a number of critical matters facing the Community. Since then, a number of other developments at the national, regional and international levels have taken place, and the Council, like many times before, is being called upon to take decisions that will map the trade and development agenda for the region into the approaching New Year 2011.

​Thank you for that warm welcome. I am truly honoured to be with you today.

Let me begin by thanking our host – the Prime Minister and people of St. Maarten – and congratulating you on your new status and constitution.

These are exciting times for the entire country. I wish you all the very best for the future.

We are here to mark the 10th anniversary of the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS [PANCAP], to look at what has been achieved and discuss the challenges ahead.

​Thank you for that warm welcome. I am truly honoured to be with you today.

Let me begin by thanking our host – the Prime Minister and people of St. Maarten – and congratulating you on your new status and constitution.

These are exciting times for the entire country. I wish you all the very best for the future.

We are here to mark the 10th anniversary of the Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS [PANCAP], to look at what has been achieved and discuss the challenges ahead.