It was with profound sorrow that the Caribbean Community ( CARICOM) Secretariat received the news of the passing of Sir Philip Manderson Sherlock on December 4, 2000 in Jamaica at the age of ninety-eight.

Sir Philip will be remembered for his firm belief in, and lifelong dedication to the education of the people of his beloved homeland, Jamaica, and of the entire Caribbean, for he believed that people at all levels of society could and would play an important role in the development of our Region.

Mr. Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has recently concluded a mission to three Eastern Caribbean countries, Member States of CARICOM. The States visited were St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia and Dominica.

During the visit, Mr. Carrington briefed the Hon. Arnhim Eustace, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Hon. Pierre Charles, Prime Minister of Dominica on regional and international issues of importance to the development of the Community.

Mr. Chairman,
Members of the National Assembly,

Allow me, Mr Chairman, to extend a word of welcome to_

Excellency Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan, President of the Republic of Suriname and Mrs. Venetiaan,
The Vice-President of the Republic of Suriname, Jules Rattan Ajodhia and Mrs Ajodhia,
Excellency Hugo Chavez, President of the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela,
Excellency Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven, Speaker of the Lower Chamber House of the States General,
Excellency Pedro Edwin Croes, Speaker of the States of Aruba,
Excellency Dudley Lucia, Speaker of the States of the Netherlands Antilles,
Excellency Els Borst, Vice-Premier of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,

THE MORAL AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP

Your Excellency Madame Minister Maria Elizabeth Levens,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Heads of International and Regional Organisations,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Madam Minister, It is an honour, which is deeply appreciated, to have been invited to respond on behalf of the diplomatic community to your kind expression of welcome to this luncheon in celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the Independence of Suriname.

Excellency Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan, President of the Republic of Suriname and Mrs. Venetiaan,
The Vice-President of the Republic of Suriname, Jules Rattan Ajodhia and Mrs Ajodhia,
Excellency Hugo Chavez, President of the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela,
Excellency Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven, Speaker of the Lower Chamber House of the States General,
Excellency Pedro Edwin Croes, Speaker of the States of Aruba,
Excellency Dudley Lucia, Speaker of the States of the Netherlands Antilles,
Excellency Els Borst, Vice-Premier of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,

Mr. Chairman, Members of the National Assembly,

Allow me, Mr Chairman, to extend a word of welcome to_

It is always a pleasure to welcome representatives of CARICOM Member States to the Community's Headquarters here in Georgetown. It is especially so today because you represent an interest group which is in a key position to influence both the direction and the pace of future development of our Region. Coming as you do from Government Information Services, regional media houses, non-governmental organisations and private sector bodies, you also represent major stakeholders in this business of regional integration.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media
Distinguished Guests
Members of Staff of the Secretariat

It is indeed a very great pleasure for me to welcome you to this the Second Meeting of the Regional Collaborative Network in Support for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSM&E) Public Education Programme. The task is particularly pleasing because today I address you Members of the Media as the principal participants.