A range of issues deemed critical to the future development of the Caribbean Community have been proposed for discussion at the first ever Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Forum with the Region's Civil Society to be convened next year.
Proposals for the issues came out of the first meeting of the Planning Committee for the Forum held in Trinidad and Tobago recently. The Forum is scheduled to be held no later than April 2001.
This Meeting is being held under a pall of sadness. The people of Dominica last Sunday morning, without warning, lost their new Prime Minister, the Hon. Roosevelt Douglas, and are in mourning. The people of Canada, last Thursday lost their former Prime Minister and friend of the Caribbean, the Rt. Hon. Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
Let us observe one minute silence in their honour.
It was with great shock and profound sadness that the Caribbean Community learnt, early Sunday morning, of the death of the Prime Minister of Dominica, the Honourable Roosevelt Douglas at the age of 58.
Prime Minister Douglas was welcomed to the fold of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community only eight months ago when, in February this year, he led the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) to its first electoral victory since 1980.
Caribbean people are being urged to draw on the historical experience of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Court of Appeal as a reference point in assessing the Region's readiness for the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
It was with dismay and sadness that the Caribbean Community learnt of the death of the Right Honourable Pierre Elliot Trudeau, former Prime Minister of Canada.
He was a friend of the Caribbean Community and enjoyed a close relationship with the Leaders of the Caribbean, often spending many days in Caribbean waters.
Caribbean Youth's contribution to the decision-making process of the regional integration movement specifically as it pertains to the social development of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) could impact on the deliberations of one of CARICOM's principal organs, the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), which will convene its Fourth Meeting in Georgetown, Guyana from 4-6 October, 2000.
The Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Organ which is responsible for promoting human and social development within the region, is gearing itself to set new benchmarks for social development within CARICOM .
Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Secretary-General.
Mr. Assistant Secretary-General,
Distinguished Colleagues,
Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to present on behalf of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, the following statement on the region's position on Haiti following recent political developments in that country.
The Caribbean Community has lost another of its heroes.Â
After winning most of his battles on the field, Roy Clinton Fredericks lost the most lethal one off the field when he succumbed to throat cancer on 5 September, 2000. Roy Fredericks was one of those ambassadors of the Region's most popular sport, cricket, who inspired a generation of West Indians and in the process won the admiration of the people of the Caribbean.
India's High Commissioner to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Dr. Prakash Joshi today mooted a CARICOM- India Joint Commission. The Indian envoy was at the time presenting his credentials to CARICOM's Secretary-General, Mr Edwin Carrington at the Community's Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana.
The High Commissioner, who is also accredited to Guyana, Dominica,
St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia, noted that such a move would serve to further strengthen the relationship between the two sides and provide a mechanism for greater cooperation on mutual issues.