Press Releases

Conscious of their manifest potency, the Antiguan and Barbudan people are quite likely to set about devising means of seeking my immediate impeachment should I fail to begin my remarks with the affirmation which is now virtually mandatory in Antigua and Barbuda; on all occasions, and at every level.

It is thus my duty, on behalf of the Antiguan and Barbudan people, to open this meeting with the sentiment that seemingly all in our country share and are anxious to proclaim to the world.

Welcome to Government in the Sunshine!

Today, 1 May 2004, CARICOM joins with the rest of the international community in taking note and extending its best wishes to the European Community on the historic step taken by its people, in expanding the membership of their Community from 15 to 25 States. Both the size and nature of the expansion demonstrates the enormity of their confidence in the process of regional integration as a vehicle for the improvement of the quality of their lives.

A US$9 Mn World Bank Grant Agreement to support the work of the Caribbean Community-led Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) was signed on Wednesday, 28 April 2004 during the Opening Ceremony of the Tenth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), being held at the Tobago Hilton, Trinidad and Tobago.

Signing on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was H.E. Mr. Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General of CARICOM, and on behalf of the World Bank Ms. Caroline Anstey, Director, Latin America and the Caribbean Region.

Hon. John Rahael Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago
Other Honourable Ministers
Honourable Chief Secretary and Other Representatives of the Tobago House of Assembly
Ms Carole Ainstey Manager/Director World Bank
Other Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen_

Honorable Secretary-General of CARICOM, Distinguished Ministers and Country Representatives, Colleagues from Regional and International Organizations, Ladies and Gentlemen_

First and foremost, I would like to express our gratitude to the organizers of this meeting for giving us a chance to sign the Grant Agreement between CARICOM and the World Bank to support the implementation of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS.

It is my pleasure to welcome you all on behalf of the Directorate of Human and Social Development and indeed the entire CARICOM Secretariat. I wish in particular to thank you Minister and your staff at the Ministry of Health for making the arrangements for hosting this meeting. I also wish to express great pleasure that The Hon. Orville London Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly has graced this opening ceremony with his presence.

Honorable Secretary-General of CARICOM, Distinguished Ministers and Country Representatives, Colleagues from Regional and International Organizations, Ladies and Gentlemen_

First and foremost, I would like to express our gratitude to the organizers of this meeting for giving us a chance to sign the Grant Agreement between CARICOM and the World Bank to support the implementation of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS.

Hon. John Rahael Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago
Other Honourable Ministers
Honourable Chief Secretary and Other Representatives of the Tobago House of Assembly
Ms Carole Ainstey Manager/Director World Bank
Other Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen_

The CARICOM Region should look to breathing much cleaner air and accessing cheaper electricity over the next few years with the execution of the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme (CREDP).

A Global Environmental Facility (GEF) grant of US$3.726 million made available through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is the most recent addition to the international financial assistance already secured for the Programme.

The CARICOM Secretariat has benefited from a UNDP US$303,370 grant to establish a video conferencing facility at its new headquarters in Georgetown. The Facility is expected to reduce the exorbitant logistic cost associated with the myriad of meetings that are convened by the Secretariat.