(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads Of Government have reported a very positive and businesslike two-hour meeting with US President George W. Bush that will set in motion the Region’s quest for a more mature partnership with the United States.

THEME: THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT_ CARICOM'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE CURRENT AND FUTURE GLOBAL SYSTEM

Mr. Chairman
Distinguished Heads of State and Heads of Government
Honourable Ministers of Government
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, His Excellency Edwin Carrington
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Government Officials of the United States and the Caribbean Community
Officials of the International Financial Institutions
Ladies and Gentlemen

Distinguished Heads of State and Government
Other Distinguished Participants
Representatives of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

A very, very warm welcome to you all

The great honour and privilege has fallen to me as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to call this historic CONFERENCE ON THE CARIBBEAN_ A 20/20 VISION to order. It is also my honour and privilege to chair the Opening Session of this landmark event.

Distinguished Heads of State and Government
Other Distinguished Participants
Representatives of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

A very, very warm welcome to you all

The great honour and privilege has fallen to me as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to call this historic CONFERENCE ON THE CARIBBEAN_ A 20/20 VISION to order. It is also my honour and privilege to chair the Opening Session of this landmark event.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) A very important element of the Conference on the Caribbean_ A 20/20 Vision is the dialogue between the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Members of Congress.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The largest ever contingent of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders to gather in Washington DC, USA began their series of meetings on Monday 18 June when the Foreign Ministers of CARICOM met with the United States Secretary of State at the State Department.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)  Washington DC - 19 June 2007 - For the first time ever, Heads of State and Government from fourteen Member States of the Caribbean Community, policy makers, members of International Organisations and Financial Agencies, the academic community, the private sector, and people of the Caribbean and of the United States kicked off a high-level meeting today to examine the growth and development of the Caribbean Community from a regional perspective.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General H.E. Edwin Carrington reiterated Thursday that competitiveness was critical to the survival of the Region and must be the underlying theme of the Conference on the Caribbean.

The Secretary General was responding to questions from the media during a press briefing on 14 June on the Conference to be held in Washington DC 19-21 June.

Your Excellency Ambassador Jose L. Vignolo
Deputy Secretary-General, Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite
Members of Executive Management
Other Members of Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat
Representatives of the Media
Other Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my honour and pleasure to extend a warm welcome to you, Ambassador Vignolo, on the occasion of your accreditation as the first Plenipotentiary Representative of the Argentine Republic to the Caribbean Community.