Speeches

By mahtabala, 2 July, 2003

Most Honourable Percival J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairman of the Caribbean Community,
Your Excellency Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa and Chairman of the African Union,
Colleague Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community,
Honourable Ministers of Governments, Members of Parliaments and other elected officials,
Secretaries-General Carrington, Gaviria, Girvan and McKinnon
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen_

By mahtabala, 2 July, 2003

Your Excellencies the Most Honourable Sir Howard Cooke and Lady Cooke
President Thabo Mbeki
President Ricardo Lagos
Colleague Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
Specially Invited Dignitaries
Heads of International and Regional Organisations
Honourable Ministers and Members of Parliament
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community
Special Emissaries and Members of the Diplomatic Corps

By mahtabala, 2 July, 2003

My presence here today as Prime Minister is the consequence of an electoral choice that is without precedent in the post-independence history of my country.

It focuses my mind on the fact that we live in unprecedented times – in a world caught up with difficult and dangerous new tensions, and confronted with blistering and bewildering change that makes it often very difficult for our people to see the future.

By mahtabala, 2 July, 2003

Most Honourable P.J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairperson of CARICOM, 
Distinguished Heads of State and Government of CARICOM 
Your Excellencies_ Ministers, Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Delegates and friends

On behalf of the African Union and your brothers and sisters in Africa, I would like to thank you most sincerely for the privilege and opportunity you have given us to attend this 24th Regular Meeting of CARICOM, as well as join you as you celebrate the 30th Anniversary of CARICOM.

By mahtabala, 30 June, 2003

Mr. Chairman;
Right Honourable Prime Minister of Barbados;
Outgoing Chairman of the Council for Finance and Planning;
Other Ministers of Finance and Planning;
Central Bank Governors;
Representatives of International, Hemispheric and Regional Organisations;
Representatives of the Private Sector;
Distinguished Delegates;
Staff of the Caribbean Community Secretariat;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen;

By mahtabala, 30 June, 2003

Mr. Chairman;
Right Honourable Prime Minister of Barbados;
Outgoing Chairman of the Council for Finance and Planning;
Other Ministers of Finance and Planning;
Central Bank Governors;
Representatives of International, Hemispheric and Regional Organisations;
Representatives of the Private Sector;
Distinguished Delegates;
Staff of the Caribbean Community Secretariat;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen;

By mahtabala, 26 June, 2003

Apart from the selection and fortunes of the West Indies Cricket team, there is no other issue that evokes, in this region, a richer, more sustained, more fierce, and more misplaced commentary than the purposes and workings of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.

In both instances, the debate seems to be inspired by the desire of the people of the Caribbean for the region and its institutions to succeed, and the unwillingness therefore to accept any departure from full effort and best practice.