(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) CARICOM Heads of Government at their Sixteenth Inter-Sessional Meeting in Suriname took an important step in dealing with the issue of natural disaster by placing the subject as part of the responsibility of the Community Council of Ministers - CARICOM's second highest body.

The Heads of Government, in taking note of the devastation which countries in the Region have been subjected to in the last six months, agreed to continue to provide such assistance as they can to the most seriously affected, including Grenada and Guyana.

The signing of the Treaty establishing the Caribbean Community and Common Market, commonly called the Treaty of Chaguaramas, on 4 July 1973, marked the culmination of years of talks among Caribbean visionaries for a deepened integration among the then independent countries of the Commonwealth Caribbean and the British dependent territories. This event, almost 32 years ago, was considered a milestone as the regional integration movement recorded its genesis in the formation of the Caribbean Free Trade Area (CARIFTA), the predecessor of CARICOM.

Good morning.

Please permit me to say how delighted and excited I am to be here in Trinidad and Tobago at this National Launch of Informational Material by the Environmental Commission. The Secretary-General of the Community, H.E. Edwin Carrington, a son of the soil, has asked that I convey his personal regards to you, Mr. President, and also his best wishes to the organizers and participants for a successful Launch.

Your Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana
Colleague Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
Your Excellency Ricardo Lagos, President of Chile
Your Excellency Madam Jagan

(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) The Preparatory Committee (PrepCom-2) Meeting for Phase 2 of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) got underway in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday, 17 February, with a special focus on sourcing financing and the utilisation of ICTs for the economic and social development.

His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Republic of Guyana
His Excellency, Runaldo R. Venetiaan President of the Republic of Suriname and Chairman of the Caribbean Community
Other Heads of State and Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
His Excellency Ricardo Lagos Escobar, President of the Republic of Chile
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds Ministers of Government Mr Speaker and Members of Parliament Ambassador Tatsuo Arima, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan
Other members of the Diplomatic Corps

His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Republic of Guyana
His Excellency, Runaldo R. Venetiaan President of the Republic of Suriname and Chairman of the Caribbean Community
Other Heads of State and Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
His Excellency Ricardo Lagos Escobar, President of the Republic of Chile
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds Ministers of Government Mr Speaker and Members of Parliament Ambassador Tatsuo Arima, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan
Other members of the Diplomatic Corps

Excellencies

Today, we gather to inaugurate the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters Building at Liliendaal. This is indeed a proud moment for all Guyanese, especially for me as it represents the fulfilling of a promise made more than 30 years ago when the regional integration process began. The event must certainly rank among the more significant occasions in the life of our integration movement.

Acknowledgements

Salutations

The formal opening of the Headquarters of the Community in this rich and diverse land is a particularly touching occasion for me personally. I had to be here. I am honoured that I have the privilege to speak to this august gathering.

It is a moment filled with nostalgia but I must resist the temptation simply to indulge in fond reminiscence.

Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), His Excellency Mr. Edwin Carrington was officially handed the keys to the Headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat this morning during a ceremony held on the grounds of the facilities at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.