(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community and Staff of the Secretariat are stunned and appalled at the senseless, brutal killings in Bartica, Essequibo, Guyana, on Sunday, 17 February of 13 people, including three police officers, by an armed gang.

Your Excellency Ambassador Luigi Maccotta
Deputy Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community
Other Members of Staff of the Secretariat
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Representatives of the Media

It is my pleasure, as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, to welcome you Ambassador Luigi Maccotta to the Headquarters of the Caribbean Community here in Guyana and to receive your credentials as Italy’s Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will seek the support of countries such as Italy to sensitise other members of the European Community on the challenges that small countries face in adjusting to new reciprocal arrangements under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), CARICOM Secretary-General H.E. Edwin Carrington said.

Mr. Chairman,
Colleague Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Community Council,
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community,
Excellencies,
Senior Officials,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour for me to welcome you to Barbados on the occasion of the 21st session of the Community Council.

The University of Guyana (UG) in partnership with Nova Southeastern University is offering a one-off Masters of Education Programme which will be effected through interactive classes at UG and online courses. The programme was launched earlier today at the Education Lecture Theatre, University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus.

Minister of Education Shaik Baksh during his remarks pointed out that the programme is being offered since Government recognises the need to build capacity and for training to be offered at a higher level to enable the education sector to move forward.

Honourable Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas and Chairman of the Community Council of Ministers
Honourable Christopher Sinckler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business of Barbados
Other Honourable Ministers
Distinguished Delegates
Deputy Secretary-General and Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat
Representative of the OECS Secretariat
Representatives of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS): US Ambassador to The Bahamas Ned Siegel has pledged to continue the literacy programme in the schools that was started by his predecessor John Rood.

Siegel told the Minister of Lands and Local Government, Sidney Collie during a courtesy call on Wednesday, that the US Embassy also plans on taking the programme to the Family Islands.“Today I have my first reading at Woodcock Elementary at 11_45 a.m., and I already have my book picked out and look forward to reading to the second grade,” Siegel said.