Press Releases

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Hon Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica, in an unequivocal statement on Tuesday (1 July 2008) to the Twenty-Ninth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government re-affirmed his country's commitment to CARICOM.

Prime Minister Golding who was attending his first Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government as a Head of Government told the Opening Ceremony held at the Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa that Jamaica remained firmly committed to CARICOM.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) New Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Hon Baldwin Spencer has cited the issue of regional security as one of the most critical issues to be tackled by the Twenty-Ninth Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The historic Dickenson Bay in Antigua and Barbuda was the venue of the Opening Ceremony of the Twenty-Ninth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.

Your Excellency, Dame Louise Lake-Tack Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda
Distinguished Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
Distinguished Secretary General of the Organisation of American States
Distinguished Secretary General of CARICOM
Distinguished Secretary General of the Commonwealth
Ministers of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda
Ministers of other CARICOM Governments
Madame President and Members of the Senate
Madame Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives
Honourable Members of the Judiciary

We have gathered again, as we do so frequently, this time in the beautiful islands of Antigua and Barbuda, and we must thank the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda for receiving us as splendidly as they have done.

We have come together as leaders of the 15 member countries and 5 associate countries that make up this Community. And let me say this, in case there be any doubt that still lingers_ JAMAICA REMAINS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO CARICOM!

Chairpersons of the Opening Ceremony
Her Excellency Dame Louise Lake-Tack, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda
The Honourable Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
Colleague Heads of Government
Premiers, Chief Ministers and Leader of Government Business of the Associate Members of the Community
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community
Secretary General of the Organisation of American States

Your Excellency Dame Louise Lake-Tack, Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda
The Honourable Winston Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
Your Excellencies, Presidents of Guyana, Haiti and Suriname
Other Distinguished Heads of Government
Honourable Ministers
Secretaries-General of the Organisation of American States and of the Commonwealth [and of the Association of Caribbean States]

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)  Tourism will be the sole item facing the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as the working sessions of the 29th Meeting get underway on Wednesday 2 July, 2008 at the Hibiscus Room of the Jolly Beach Resort in Bolans, Antigua and Barbuda.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Jamaica's Barbara Evelyn Bailey, Director of the Centre for Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies has been selected as the recipient of the Ninth CARICOM Triennial Award for Women, 2008.

The Award was introduced in 1983 to recognize and honour Caribbean women who have made significant contributions to socio-economic development at the national and regional levels.