Mr. Chairman, H.E. the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community
Honourable Ministers
Distinguished Delegates
Colleagues Representatives from Regional and International Organisations
Staff of the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community
Representatives of the Media, to those of you representing youth media
Ladies and Gentlemen

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Meeting of the Twelfth Special COHSOD on Children was officially opened last evening (17 March 2008) with the tantalising sounds of the Solo Parkside Steel Orchestra playing Whitney Houston’s The Greatest Love of All to an audience of Ministers of Government, international and regional stakeholders, child journalists and child advocates, at the Guyana International Convention Centre.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Professor Nigel Harris, Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), yesterday challenged the Caribbean Community to ensure greater collaboration with Regional and international institutions in order to build a Region fit for children.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) His Excellency Edwin Carrington said yesterday, that preparatory work had started for the drafting of a Protocol on Contingent Rights to be accorded to spouses, children and other dependents of persons who exercised the right to move within the framework of the CARICOM Single Market (CSM). Foremost among those, he said were the rights to services such as education and health.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)Human safety and well-being ‘will worsen as a direct consequence of climate change’ and children are most vulnerable, said UWI lecturer, Dr Leonard Nurse.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Professor Nigel Harris, Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) will be the Keynote Speaker at the Twelfth Special Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), which has its focus for the second time on Children.

(CARICOM Secretariat Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) When the Twelfth Special Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) meets in Guyana next week (17-19 March 2008), it will be making a strong case for the establishment of a comprehensive child legislative framework and efficient implementing mechanisms for greater protection of children in the Caribbean.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Against the background of mounting concerns about the plight and prospects of the Region’s children, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) is devoting its Twelfth Special Conference to issues related to children.