Madam Chair,
Honourable Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis
Other Ministers of Finance and Planning
Central Bank Governors
Representatives of International, Hemispheric and Regional Organisations
Distinguished Delegates and Officials
Staff of the Caribbean Community Secretariat
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Madam Chair,
Hon. Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis
Other Ministers of Finance and Planning
Central Bank Governors
Representatives of International, Hemispheric and Regional Organisations
Distinguished Delegates and Officials
Staff of the Caribbean Community Secretariat
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
The situation in Haiti will top the agenda as Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meet in St Kitts and Nevis for the Fifteenth Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference.
CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – The Seventeenth Meeting of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) was not reconvened as previously scheduled, on March 18 to 19. A decision has been taken to postpone the TNC. The decision came at the close of an Informal Meeting of FTAA Vice-Ministers (from selected countries), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 9 to 10. The announcement was revealed in a March 10 joint communiqué, issued by the TNC Co-Chairs. The TNC will resume in Puebla, Mexico, April 22 to 23.
The Caribbean Community has demonstrated considerable diplomatic capacity in formulating the CARICOM Initiative in respect of the ongoing Haitian political crisis. CARICOM has achieved as well a remarkable sense of unity in its response to the aftermath of former President Aristide’s sudden departure from office on the 29th of February. These have earned marked respect from sections of the International Community and the majority of our Caribbean citizens, local and foreign alike.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) concluded its second free trade agreement with a country in the wider Caribbean with the signature of the CARICOM-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement today in Jamaica. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson on behalf of CARICOM and President Abel Pacheco of Costa Rica signed the Agreement in the presence of a gathering, which included members of the Costa Rican and Jamaican cabinets, private sector representatives of both countries, and the Secretary-General of CARICOM, Mr. Edwin Carrington.
Winner of the Junior category of the Regional Art Competition, Zennisha Richards, has made a special plea to Ministers of Education of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to make Art a compulsory subject and not an extra-curricular subject on the timetable.
CARICOM under my Chairmanship has been deeply involved in the search for a solution to the political crisis in Haiti.
Following the departure of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide a new President has taken the Oath of Office.
It is a pleasure to join in welcoming you to this opening ceremony. which will signal the start of a three-part training programme in Project Development and Project Management being conducted within the Organisational Development (OD) component of the CIDA-funded CARICOM Capacity Development Programme (CCDP).
I am delighted at the interest shown in these workshops; it is obviously an indication that the Secretariat staff realises the importance of the skills you will derive from this training.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) concluded its second free trade agreement with a country in the wider Caribbean with the signature of the CARICOM-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement today in Jamaica. Prime Minister P.J. Patterson on behalf of CARICOM and President Abel Pacheco of Costa Rica signed the Agreement in the presence of a gathering, which included members of the Costa Rican and Jamaican cabinets, private sector representatives of both countries, and the Secretary-General of CARICOM, Mr. Edwin Carrington.