Mr. Chairman
Incoming Chairman of the COHSOD, Minister Lawrence Achong
Other Honourable Ministers of Government
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Representatives of International and Regional organizations, especially Ms. Grace Strauchan, Regional Director of the ILO, who is attending her first meeting of the COHSOD
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media
Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat

(Presented by Dr. Edward Greene, Assistant Secretary-General,
Human and Social Development, CARICOM Secretariat)

It is my pleasure to welcome you all on behalf of the Directorate of Human and Social Development. Our Directorate has worked assiduously over the past year to support the flagship activity of the Community, which is the accelerated implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. Many of the activities in which we have been engaged are being discussed at this meeting.

Honourable Ministers
Dr. Edward Greene and other members of the CARICOM Secretariat
Ms. Grace Strachan, Director of the ILO, Caribbean Office
Permanent Secretaries
Representatives of Ministers
Representatives of Regional and International Institutions
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is certainly a pleasure for me to be here in Guyana at this very important Meeting. I bring you greetings from the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago.

It was with profound sadness that the Caribbean Community learnt of the passing of the Honourable George Odlum, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Saint Lucia, on Sunday, 28 September 2003.

The Fifth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference came to an end in Cancún, Mexico, September 14. However, the ‘endgame’ was not the result WTO members had hoped for.

The Cancún summit closed with no consensus on key items on its agenda. Members failed to bridge their differences. Divisions amongst members proved too deep.