Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and CANADA, at their Sixth Summit Meeting at Montego Bay, Jamaica, on 19 January 2001,
Having considered recent developments in Belize-Guatemala relations;
Welcoming the fact that on 8 November, 2000 Belize and Guatemala signed an Agreement on Confidence Building Measures witnessed by the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States;
The Community Council of Ministers, the second highest decision-making Organ of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will convene its Seventh Meeting in Georgetown, Guyana on 26-27 January, 2001 at the Le Meriden Pegasus Hotel.
This Meeting takes place just weeks before the 12th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM scheduled for Barbados from 14-16 February, 2001.
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The Tenth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) which was convened in Georgetown, Guyana, 11-12 January 2001 is dismayed at the decision of the Agriculture Council of the European Union to direct the Commission to prepare for a revised EU banana import regime based on the principle of "First Come, First Served" (FCFS).
The Tenth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) which was convened in Georgetown, Guyana,11-12 January 2001 is dismayed at the decision of the Agriculture Council of the European Union to direct the Commission to prepare for a revised EU banana import regime based on the principle of "First Come, First Served" (FCFS).
The Preparatory Committee working on the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will issue a status report to the Legal Affairs Committee at its Sixth Special Meeting in Georgetown, Guyana scheduled for 23-24 January 2001.
The Attorneys General and Ministers of Legal Affairs of Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will also be working towards agreement on the establishment of the regional court as well as addressing initiatives on the rules of Court as they relate to the Original Jurisdiction of the CCJ.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers responsible for Trade and Economic Development have agreed to a CARICOM position on Agriculture and Services in the current round of negotiations taking place in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Long-Term Electoral Observer Mission to the Republic of Guyana arrived in the country on 13 January, 2001 to commence preparations for observing the upcoming 2001 General Elections.
The Chief of Mission is the Hon. Carl Rattray, OJ, QC, former President of the Court of Appeal, Jamaica; and the Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Justin Mc. Clair Daniel, Chief Elections Officer, Saint Lucia.
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Mr. Edwin Carrington and his Senior Staff, held the first Press Conference by the Secretariat for the New Year on January 10, 2001 at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Headquarters in Barbados.
The Secretary-General was in Barbados also to participate in the two-day High-Level Consultations on the OECD's Harmful Tax Competition Initiative.
Colleague Ministers
Heads of Delegation and Delegates
Secretary-General and staff of the Caribbean Community Secretariat
Officials of the Regional Negotiating Machinery
Representatives of Associated Institutions and especially the Private Sector
Members of the Press
Ladies, Gentlemen, Friends, Cuba and the Dominican Republic Representatives
A very pleasant morning to you all! Let me take this opportunity to extend to all of you best wishes and successes for the new year 2001.
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SALUTATIONS Let me begin by first extending, on behalf of the Government and people of the Commonwealth of Dominica, a happy and prosperous 2001 to all my colleague Ministers, the Secretary-General, officials, and staff of the CARICOM Secretariat. It is our hope that the year 2001 will be for you and for all of us in CARICOM, a year of greater accomplishments and the fulfilment of hopes and dreams. |