(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) In an effort to forge stronger ties with the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has established a Task Force which held its first meeting today (Tuesday, 4 November 2008) at the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Jamaican diplomat Ambassador Lorne T McDonnough has been appointed the first Chief Executive Officer of the recently launched CARICOM Development Fund (CDF). Ambassador McDonnough assumed his post on 1 November 2008 at the CDF Headquarters in Bridgetown, Barbados. He is responsible for the overall administration, coordination of activities and programmes of the Fund.

I am happy to have this opportunity to offer a warm welcome to Commissioners of Police and Military Chiefs from around our Region and to express appreciation for your many years of loyal service and commitment to law enforcement.  We are all hopeful that the results of your meeting will assist us in better responding to the challenges that crime continues to present in each of our countries and across our Region.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) A Resources Consortium in Support of the 2010 Population and Housing Censuses in the Caribbean Community was launched on Monday 27 October at a Meeting of Caribbean Statisticians and the Regional Census Coordinating Committee held in Barbados.

This Consortium will be a clearing-house for CARICOM Member States, Associate Members and international agencies and will assist with coordinating resources to support the conduct of the 2010 Population and Housing Censuses.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)  CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General, Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite has told the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians that despite the general lack of appreciation for statistics as a strategic resource for decision-making, good governance, planning, accountability and management, it is still a vital tool for development, the business of government, and to keep individual citizens informed about what government is doing.

I am happy to have this opportunity to offer a warm welcome to Commissioners of Police and Military Chiefs from around our Region and to express appreciation for your many years of loyal service and commitment to law enforcement.  We are all hopeful that the results of your meeting will assist us in better responding to the challenges that crime continues to present in each of our countries and across our Region.

It is a pleasure for me to participate in this session on Leadership Uniting Vision and Purpose at this Eighth Annual General Meeting of the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP).

Mr. Chairman
Hon. Rudyard Spencer, Minister of Health, Jamaica
Hon. John Fabien, Minister of Health and the Environment, Commonwealth of Dominica and Chair of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism of PANCAP
Ministers of Government and Parliamentarians of other Caribbean States
Dr. Edward Greene, Assistant Secretary-General, CARICOM Secretariat
Dr. Kevin Harvey, Chair of the Caribbean Coalition of National Programme Coordinators
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Members of PANCAP
Members of the Media
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

Mr. Chairman
Hon. Rudyard Spencer, Minister of Health, Jamaica
Hon. John Fabien, Minister of Health and the Environment, Commonwealth of Dominica and Chair of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism of PANCAP
Ministers of Government and Parliamentarians of other Caribbean States
Dr. Edward Greene, Assistant Secretary-General, CARICOM Secretariat
Dr. Kevin Harvey, Chair of the Caribbean Coalition of National Programme Coordinators
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Members of PANCAP
Members of the Media
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen