Press Releases

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) trade officials and representatives of national standards bureaux will participate in a Training for Trainers Workshop aimed at assisting CARICOM Member States to reap maximum rewards in the global trade arena.

The CARICOM Secretariat is collaborating with the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) in staging the Workshop which will take place in Barbados 8-10 September 2004 The Workshop will focus on Standards and Technical Regulations, which can sometimes be used as artificial barriers to free trade.

The first President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the Right Honorable Justice Michael de la Bastide of Trinidad and Tobago will be sworn in on Wednesday, 18 August.

President of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. George Maxwell Richards will administer the Oath of Office before a gathering expected to include Prime Minister of Grenada and CARICOM Chairman, Dr. the Honorable Keith Mitchell; CARICOM Secretary General, Mr. Edwin Carrington; and Commissioners of the Regional Judiciary and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC).

Civil Society in three CARICOM Member States is to benefit from workshops on Opportunities and Commitments for Establishment, Services and Capital in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). A CARICOM Secretariat team of officials and consultants are scheduled to execute the sessions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Dominica in August.

The Caribbean Community mourns the passing of one of its pioneer sons, Sir Kenneth Standard, Professor Emeritus (Community Health) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) at the age of 82.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Rex Nettleford, remembering Sir Kenneth, recalled that in 1948 this young Barbadian, already a headmaster in his native island journeyed to Mona, Jamaica to become one of the now famous "first 33" students to walk through the doors of the new the University College of the West Indies (UCWI) Faculty of Medicine.

Twenty-seven young persons representing thirteen Member States and three Associate States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as Youth Ambassadors have been encouraged to develop and articulate a shared vision for the Caribbean that focuses on improving the quality of life for all in the Community. The charge was given by Deputy Secretary-General of CARICOM, Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite during an address at an induction ceremony for the CARICOM youth representatives held at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Headquarters St Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday (August 3).

CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – The WTO General Council last week approved a Framework which sets out the parameters for continued DDA negotiations. WTO Members negotiated intensively for two weeks prior to culminating in a marathon session which began at 5pm on Friday July 30, and ended almost 24 hours later on Saturday afternoon.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General, Mr. Edwin Carrington says one aim of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is the creation of a single economic space within which artists can continue to express and strengthen the Region's unique culture and shared identity. Mr. Carrington was speaking at the Secretariat's Georgetown headquarters on Wednesday (August 4) during a function, which featured readings and reasoning by Barbadian poet, Dr. Cynthia Wilson from her new collection of works, The Hibiscus Bears a Blue Flower.

The Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) - comprising the Chairman (the Prime Minister of Grenada), the Immediate Past Chairman (the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda), the Next Chairman (the President of Suriname) and the Secretary-General - has arrived at a recommendation on the Community's relations with the Interim Administration of Haiti.

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Head with responsibility for Health and HIV/AIDS, Dr. the Honourable Denzil Douglas has charged CARICOM Youth Ambassadors (CYA) at a workshop in St. Kitts and Nevis to become effective change agents in the fight against HIV/AIDS.