Press Releases

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) End violence against women was the clear message that resonated with speakers at the opening ceremony of the Caribbean artistes UNITE-ing against Gender Based Violence workshop in Paramaribo, Suriname on Monday, 18 July, 2011.

The workshop was organized in tandem with UN Women to train Caribbean artistes to raise awareness on gender based violence and promote positive attitudes and behaviour towards a more gender sensitive community through the use of edutainment.

​Today is for me, and I would hazard, for all of us here, an occasion charged with mixed emotions, those of sadness but also those of satisfaction.

It is always a sad occasion to say farewell to someone; it is all the more so, when the object of these sentiments of “fare thee well” is a person of such stature to whom the Caribbean Community will remain indebted.

The satisfaction comes from celebrating a job well done in Your Honour’s guiding a new regional institution along the path towards excellence and high esteem.

​A pleasant afternoon to you and a warm welcome to the opening of the CARICOM-UN Women Workshop with Caribbean Artists UNiTE-ing against Gender Based Violence. I have the pleasure of welcoming you on behalf of the Acting Secretary General of the Caribbean Community – Her Excellency Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite.

​Message delivered on behalf of Dr Rosina Wiltshire CARICOM Gender Advocate At the Caribbean Artists Uniting against Gender Based Violence Workshop,  18 July 2011,  Paramaribo, Suriname

​Ladies and Gentlemen, good afternoon_ Let me on behalf of the UN Women Regional Programme Director (RPD) Ms. Roberta Clarke, extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of Suriname, to the Representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Culture present today for your partnering with UN Women and CARICOM Secretariat for the hosting of this workshop, which we expect will be a very engaging and significant stimulus in our efforts to end gender based violence.

Message delivered on behalf of Dr Rosina Wiltshire CARICOM Gender Advocate At the Caribbean Artists Uniting against Gender Based Violence Workshop,  18 July 2011,  Paramaribo, Suriname

​The last six months during which I had the honour of holding the Chairmanship of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have been a period of introspection, hope and modest accomplishments.

In handing over to my friend and colleague the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, I feel confident that his vast experience in regional matters and his immense skill in achieving consensus, will ensure that our Caribbean Community continues on a path of progress and development.

​Salutations:

I welcome you all to St. Kitts & Nevis – the country that my Government is honored to have been given the opportunity to lead. These two islands, as we know, hold a special place in the history of the Caribbean. It was here that the French and British subjugation of this Region began. They are the islands of the indigenous people of the Carib. It is here that thousands of our African Ancestors called their home away from home. And it was here that the mass-based movement toward self-liberation - in the English-speaking Caribbean - began as well.

The Thirty-Second Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was held at Frigate Bay, St. Kitts and Nevis from 30 June - 4 July 2011. The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas presided.