(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)  An eight-member delegation from Italy yesterday visited the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat to seek the Region’s support for that country’s bid to host the 2015 Universal Registered Exhibition in Milan under the theme `Feeding the Planet_ Energy for Life’.

The delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Vittorio Craxi presented, for the first time in South America, the bid in the form of a short documentary.

Thank you Mister President

Madam Deputy Secretary-General, Excellencies, Members of the United Nations Secretariat, International and Regional Organizations, special invited guests, ladies and gentlemen.

In the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, I bring you the following brief message from the Caribbean Community to the world_

In the occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, I bring you the following brief message from the Caribbean Community to the world_

Salutations

It is my pleasure to deliver this message on behalf of the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Edwin Carrington, who has asked me to convey sincere regrets that he is unable to be with us today owing to other commitments in the Community.

The CARICOM Secretariat is very pleased to collaborate with the Government of Guyana in this Special Ceremony to mark the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) I have the distinct honour and pleasure of addressing the Caribbean Community on the historic occasion of the Bicentenary of the passage of the Bill by the British Parliament in 1807, that abolished the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

Given the overwhelming significance of this historic moment to us in the Caribbean, it is fitting that we pause for a moment to commemorate and to remember. We must never forget.

It is with a sense of profound loss and deep personal sadness that I have received the news of the passing of one of the Caribbean’s greatest sons, Lloyd Algernon Best, OCC.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) I have the distinct honour and pleasure of addressing the Caribbean Community on the historic occasion of the Bicentenary of the passage of the Bill by the British Parliament in 1807, that abolished the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

Given the overwhelming significance of this historic moment to us in the Caribbean, it is fitting that we pause for a moment to commemorate and to remember. We must never forget.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) On Sunday, March 25, 2007 at exactly 12_00 noon, Eastern Caribbean Time, the Caribbean Community will pause for at least one minute of silence in honour of those who died in the Middle Passage and in resistance to slavery, as the Community marks the beginning of the 200th Anniversary year of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.