A sub-group of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers responsible for Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), have agreed to meet in Jamaica in June to review the status of operations of the Barbados-based Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), which temporarily suspended services in January 2002.
The group's decision to meet in Kingston, the Jamaican capital, was one of the major conclusions of the just completed ICT Meeting held in Antigua and Barbuda from 13 - 15 May 2002.
Mr Chairman
Mr Secretary General
Colleague Ministers
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Ladies and Gentlemen_
I am always delighted to have the opportunity to visit St Lucia where traditional Caribbean hospitality is offered with more than a soupcon of French flavour. Let me therefore, on behalf of my delegation, thank our hosts, the Government and people of St Lucia for having us.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is spear-heading an all-out effort to get the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) back on stream, mobilising support from various sectors of civil society to shore-up the efforts of the executive body of the regional media house.
A special emergency meeting of CARICOM Ministers responsible for Information will be convened in Antigua and Barbuda on Monday, 28 January 2002, to hammer out a course of action to ensure the resumption and sustainability of the functioning of the CMC.
Honourable Prime Ministers of Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Honourable Ministers of Finance
Other Honourable Ministers
The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Director of the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean of the UNDP,
Vice-president of the Americas Branch of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
The President of the Caribbean Development Bank
As a Caribbean man, born, bred and brought up a Caribbean man, I know that I speak on behalf of all fellow Caribbean people, especially the business community and businesses like BWIA with a broad Caribbean raison d'etre, when I say that we are indeed proud, delighted and appreciative that our Caribbean leaders have agreed to bring a Caribbean Court of Justice into being.
Mr. Chairman
His Excellency Governor General Sir Clifford Husbands
Colleague Prime Ministers
Cabinet Ministers
Members of Parliament
Secretary-General of CARICOM, Mr. Edwin Carrington
Other Distinguished GuestsLadies and Gentlemen
Mr. Chairman, I wish to express my gratitude for the warm welcome that you have extended to me at this, my first meeting, of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.
This evening marks a momentous occasion in Caribbean legal history. We are gathered here to take a giant step towards the completion of psychological, political and judicial independence.
The Agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is now ready for signature by Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community. It is in the nature of a Treaty.
Colleague Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community;
Honourable Ministers of Government of the Community;
Your Excellency Dr Edwin Carrington;
Sir Shridath Ramphal, CARICOM's Chief Negotiator;
Other Heads of Delegations;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen_
There is a particular privilege that comes with speaking last. I can refrain from saying what I intended to say, since that would be to repeat what the Heads who have preceded me have said already.
The Twelfth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community was held at the Sherbourne Conference Centre, Barbados from 14 to16 February 2001.
The Conference_
Having engaged in deep and wide-ranging exchange of views with His Excellency Jean-Bertrand Aristide, newly-elected President of Haiti on political developments in that country;
Having been assured by His Excellency of his commitment to take such action, as lies within his authority, to address certain concerns arising from the 21 May 2000 elections, especially regarding the election of Senators, and, having also been assured of his determination to establish a new Conseil Electoral Provisoire (CEP);