The Region should expect a much more integrated approach to Human and Social Development (HSD) in the future as the Seventh Meeting of the Council of Human and Social Development (COHSOD VII) scheduled for Georgetown, Guyana October 23-25, 2002 will focus its attention on new strategies in education, health, labour, youth and gender in order to better place the people of the region for today’s global challenges.
Guyana
I am delighted to welcome you all to the opening of this historic Twenty-third Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.
SALUTATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I last visited Guyana at the behest of my colleague Heads, acting as their envoy, and charged with the responsibility for assisting with the resolution of the country's political problems.
Mr. Chairman
Colleague Heads of Government
Honourable Ministers
Secretary General
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am pleased to have received your invitation to address this Twenty-third Meeting of Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community and to join my distinguished colleagues on this occasion as we consider those critical issues which will determine the future of the integration process and the way forward.
Mr. Chairman, Colleagues Heads of Government, Mr. Secretary-General, Honourable Ministers, Members of Parliament, Distinguished delegates, Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps, Invited guests, Members of the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls.
As I conclude my six month term as Chairman of the Conference of the Heads of Government I wish to offer not only a retrospective but also to take a brief look at the manner in which we are advancing our Caribbean Integration.
Mr. Secretary-General, Mr. Chairman, Prime Minister Hinds, Colleague Heads of Government, distinguished delegations, Heads of regional and international organisations, Ladies and Gentlemen.
May I begin by thanking the Government and People of the Republic of Guyana, and you, Mr. President, for the excellent arrangements made for this meeting, and for the kind hospitality shown to the Bahamas delegation here in Guyana.
His Excellency, the President of Guyana and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government;
Other Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community;
Other Heads of Delegations;
Honourable Ministers;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Representatives of Regional and International Organisations;
Distinguished Delegates;
Professor Rhoda Reddock;
Other Specially Invited Guests;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Boys and Girls;
Decisions leading to the continued implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) are expected to be made when Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Officials and Ministers of Government responsible for Economic Development meet in Guyana 22-28 May, 2002. The Officials will meet on 22-25 May 2002, while the Ministers will meet on 27-28 May 2002.
Mr. Chairman
Honourable Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis
Madam Chancellor of the Judiciary
Honourable Ministers
Sir George Alleyne and Lady Alleyne
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Deputy Secretary-General
Representatives of Regional and International Organisations
Other Distinguished Guests
Assistant Secretary-General and other Members of Secretariat Staff
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Sixth Meeting of the Council for Social and Human Development (COHSOD) was held on 17-19 April 2002 in Georgetown, Guyana under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Dr. Douglas Slater, Minister of Health and the Environment, St Vincent and the Grenadines. The Meeting was attended by Dr the Hon. Jerome Walcott, Minister of Health, Barbados; Dr the Hon. Leslie Ramsammy, Minister of Health, Guyana; the Hon. John Junor, Minister of Health, Jamaica; the Hon. Earl Martin, Minister of Health and the Environment, St Kitts and Nevis; the Hon.