Press Releases

(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) Several Regional agencies including the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI), the Caribbean Environment Health Institute (CEHI), and the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) have committed to immediate health assistance to Guyana in the wake of floods that have affected much of the country's coastal and rural communities and the capital city, Georgetown.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) CARICOM Secretary-General, His Excellency Edwin W. Carrington, now back from the United Nations Meeting on the Sustainable Development of Small Island States in Mauritius, today (Monday, January 24, 2005) met with the Deputy Secretary-General, Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite and staff to assess the impact on staff and operations of the Secretariat, of the current flood situation in Georgetown and surrounding areas.

President of the Republic of Suriname Ministers of Foreign Affairs Excellencies Officials Ladies and Gentlemen

This afternoon I have had the honour and the pleasure of signing An Agreement for the Deepening of Bilateral Cooperation between the Government of Barbados and the Government of the Republic of Suriname. It is the hope of the Government and people of Barbados that through this Agreement we can strengthen ties at the official level and equally improve relations at the people to people level between our two societies.

On behalf of the Caribbean Community and on behalf of the Representatives of the Regional institutions who have been introduced to you, I wish to reiterate the expressions of concern and continued solidarity and support among the Member States of the Community, contained in a letter of 20th January 2005, from the Chairman of The Conference, H.E. Drs. Runaldo R. Venetiaan to H.E. President Bharrat Jagdeo, on the flood disaster and its aftermath in Guyana.

Mr. President
His Excellency The Secretary-General of the Mauritius International Meeting
Distinguished Delegates

I join in thanking the Government and People of Mauritius for hosting this meeting. The quality of the hospitality, for which we extend our gratitude, has certainly served to enhance the prospects for significant achievements by the Meeting. I extend congratulations to you Secretary-General, and to your team for the organizational arrangements which have also facilitated our deliberations.

Hon. Prime Ministers and Ministers
His Excellency Don McKinnon, Secretary General of the Commonwealth
Representative of the Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission, Mr. Raj Mohabber
His Excellency Greg Urwin, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum
Dr Lennox Hinds, Senior Advisor, CIDA Ladies and Gentlemen

Hon. Prime Ministers and Ministers
His Excellency Don McKinnon, Secretary General of the Commonwealth
Representative of the Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission, Mr. Raj Mohabber
His Excellency Greg Urwin, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum 
Dr Lennox Hinds, Senior Advisor, CIDA Ladies and Gentlemen

Mr. President
His Excellency The Secretary-General of the Mauritius International Meeting
Distinguished Delegates

I join in thanking the Government and People of Mauritius for hosting this meeting. The quality of the hospitality, for which we extend our gratitude, has certainly served to enhance the prospects for significant achievements by the Meeting. I extend congratulations to you Secretary-General, and to your team for the organizational arrangements which have also facilitated our deliberations.

The tremendous loss of life and destruction caused by the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean region on 26 December 2004 have shocked the world at large and shattered the lives of many individuals and communities. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by this tragedy, especially those who have lost family and friends.