Press Releases

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater, Georgetown, Guyana) CARICOM Secretary-General His Excellency Edwin Carrington has expressed the hope that calm would soon return to the “traumatised communities and to the nation at large” following the slaying of 11 people in Lusignan, Guyana last Saturday.

In a note to the President of Guyana, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, condemning the murders the Secretary-General said the “appalling crime…demonstrated a singular disregard for human life and …has reverberated throughout the Community and beyond.”

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) has requested Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to submit national lists of items on which they would be prepared to reduce or remove the Common External Tariff (CET). Such lists are to be submitted in time for final determination at a Special Meeting of the COTED to be held in late February.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community has accepted an invitation from the United States International Trade Commission to participate in a public hearing on Caribbean economic development in Washington, DC, USA.

Assistant Secretary-General Trade and Economic Integration, His Excellency Ambassador Irwin LaRocque will represent the CARICOM Secretary-General at the hearing on Tuesday, 29 January 2008.

Co-Chairmen
Honourable Ministers
Distinguished Delegates
Assistant Secretaries-General and Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat
Representatives of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is with the greatest pleasure that as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, I join the honourable Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation of Guyana, in welcoming you all to this historic Second Joint Meeting of the Councils for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and Human and Social Development (COHSOD).

Mr Chairman, the Honourable Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Jamaica
Dr the Honourable Henry Jeffrey, Minister of Foreign Trade and International Co-operation of Guyana
Other Honourable Ministers
Distinguished Delegates
Representatives of Regional Bodies
Assistant Secretaries-General and Staff of the Secretariat
Representatives of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

Distinguished Delegates, It is my honour to be afforded the opportunity to Chair this the 25th Regular Session of the COTED.

I am reassured by the manner in which we worked yesterday to complete the COTED/COHSOD Agenda. I know that our concerted efforts today will result in timely agreement on important items on the Agenda.

On behalf of the people of Jamaica, let me thank you for the opportunity to serve as Co-Chairman at this meeting. I am honoured to co-chair this, the 2nd Joint COTED/COSHOD meeting.

I welcome all delegates to this meeting as it has been a long time, 2001, since both CARICOM bodies have met and there are important items to be addressed on the Agenda.

Co-Chairmen
Honourable Ministers
Distinguished Delegates
Assistant Secretaries-General and Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat
Representatives of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is with the greatest pleasure that as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, I join the honourable Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation of Guyana, in welcoming you all to this historic Second Joint Meeting of the Councils for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and Human and Social Development (COHSOD).

Mr Chairman, the Honourable Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Jamaica
Dr the Honourable Henry Jeffrey, Minister of Foreign Trade and International Co-operation of Guyana
Other Honourable Ministers
Distinguished Delegates
Representatives of Regional Bodies
Assistant Secretaries-General and Staff of the Secretariat
Representatives of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen