CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) H.E. Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has extended congratulations to Mr. Shivnarine Chanderpaul on his “deserved” selection as the International Cricket Council’s Cricketer of the Year.

Please see text of the message below_

`As Secretary- General of the Caribbean Community it is with great pleasure and enormous pride that I offer heartiest congratulations to you on your deserved selection as the International Cricket Council’s Cricketer of the Year.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) has agreed to a date in October to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU).

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) SIXTY college and university students from three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States will be the initial beneficiaries of a project facilitated by the CARICOM Secretariat with the assistance of the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Integration Support Programme (CISP).

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)  For the first time in its 35 year history, the Caribbean Community will come together on 13 September 2008 to mobilize its citizens - young and old - to engage in activities that will promote and sustain healthy lifestyles, in what will be the initial observance of Caribbean Wellness Day, under the theme_ Love That Body.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Matters related to the signing of the CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will be the focus of two Heads of Government meetings to be held in Barbados on Wednesday, 10 September 2008 at the Sherbourne Conference Centre.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The CARICOM/PANCAP Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RCM) will hold its eleventh meeting on 4-5 September 2008, in Dominica.

Dr. Weggoro, Director, Productive and Social Sector of the East African Community Secretariat, and Head of the East African Community delegation;
Representatives from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda;
Colleagues, staff of the CARICOM Secretariat including those of the CSME Unit in Barbados who are participating via Video Conference;

I am honoured to have the opportunity to welcome you today to the CARICOM Secretariat.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) At the end of a ten-day magical display of Caribbean culture taking place throughout the length and breadth of Guyana, the country’s President, His Excellency Bharat Jagdeo has lauded nationals of Guyana for the tremendous display of hospitality in hosting the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA).

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) When The Bahamas opens its arms in 2010 to welcome artists from the Caribbean, officials there will do so in the warm and festive style for which the chain of Caribbean islands is known.

Some of this was on display on Sunday, 31 August at the Guyana National Stadium as the curtain came down on CARIFESTA X and the Minister of State in The Bahamas Ministry of Culture, the Hon. Mr. Charles Maynard, accepted the CARIFESTA scroll from Guyana’s Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, the Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Goergetown, Guyana) CARIFESTA X ended Sunday evening in Georgetown after ten days of at times frenetic activities, reflections, soothing night-time chorales, thought-provoking symposia and impressive presentations of art and artforms and other events at various venues throughout Guyana.

The curtains were drawn at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence - the venue where it all began on 22 August - after a colourful, high energy ceremony during which the CARIFESTA baton was passed on to The Bahamas which will host CARIFESTA XI in 2010.