Speeches

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) extends its warmest congratulations to Senator the Honourable Julian Hunte, OBE, Minister of External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation of Saint Lucia on his recent election as President of the 58th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

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.

Honourable Ministers
Other Heads of Delegation
Distinguished Delegates
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my pleasure this morning, as Secretary-General, to welcome you to the Twelfth Meeting of the Community Council of Ministers, the second highest decision-making body in the Caribbean Community.

Chairman and Members of CARICOM, Host Minister Hon. Clement Rohee, outgoing Chair Hon Margaret Dyer-Howe, Colleague Ministers, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Representatives of Member Governments, Representatives of Inter-Hemispheric and Regional Governments, Ambassador Richard Bernal - Director of the Regional Negotiating Machinery, Friends of the Media_

Chairman and Members of CARICOM,
Host Minister Hon. Clement Rohee,
outgoing Chair Hon Margaret Dyer-Howe,
Colleague Ministers,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Representatives of Member Governments,
Representatives of Inter-Hemispheric and Regional Governments,
Ambassador Richard Bernal - Director of the Regional Negotiating Machinery,
Friends of the Media_

Deputy Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and Incoming Chairman of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), Hon. Sam Condor;
Minister of Agriculture, Housing, Lands and the Environment of Montserrat and Outgoing Chairman of the Coted, Hon. Margaret Dyer-Howe;
Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation of Guyana and Host Minister, Hon. Clement Rohee;
Deputy Prime Ministers;
Ministers;

Deputy Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and Incoming Chairman of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), Hon. Sam Condor;
Minister of Agriculture, Housing, Lands and the Environment of Montserrat and Outgoing Chairman of the Coted, Hon. Margaret Dyer-Howe;
Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation of Guyana and Host Minister, Hon. Clement Rohee;
Deputy Prime Ministers;
Ministers;

Thank you for inviting me to participate in this happy event in Caribbean development – one marking another step in making the Caribbean whole. As Secretary-General of CARIFORUM and thus Regional Authorising Officer of the European Union Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme, I am both proud and pleased at the monumental achievement by Mrs. Jeanette Allsopp.