Mr. Chairman, Ambassadors, Members of Delegations. . . .
I want to discuss with you how the CARICOM region views the issue of regional security, the approaches the region is taking in respect to its application, and the problems which impact it at this current historical period.
Let me, first of all, give a historical perspective of some aspects regarding the evolution of the traditional form of military security for the protection of sovereignty in the CARICOM region.
Your Excellency President Fidel Castro
Colleague Heads of Government
Ministers of Government of Cuba and of CARICOM
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community
Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States
Distinguished Ambassadors
Specially invited guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
His Excellency the Governor-General and Mrs. Ballantyne;
Honourable Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves;
Honourable Members of the Council of Ministers of the Caribbean Forum of ACP States;
>Honourable Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands;
Representatives of the European Commission;
Representatives of the Regional negotiating Machinery;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Distinguished Delegates;
Distinguished Guests;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Honourable Heads of State or Government of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the four Caribbean countries that, having achieved independence in 1972, 30 years ago, took the courageous step of establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba;
 Honourable Heads of State or Government of the other member countries of CARICOM, whom we are bound to by close and excellent ties of brotherhood, solidarity and cooperation in various fields that constitute an example of relations between small developing countries;
Honorable Ministers
Mrs. Deputy Secretary General of CARICOM and Assistant Secretary General of CARICOM
Permanent Secretaries
Representatives of Ministries
Members of the CARICOM Secretariat
Ladies and Gentlemen
Guests,
On behalf of Suriname and myself I am honoured to represent Suriname, which accede to Chair of the Seventh Meeting of the Council of Human and Social Development at this meeting.
The Region is seeking to advance discussions on a sustainable approach to human and social development as a major step towards securing a better future for its peoples by improving their quality of life and creating a region more capable of taking on the challenges of globalisation.
Chairman
Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett
Ministers of Government and Representatives of Member States
Diplomatic Corps
Members of International and Regional Organs
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is my pleasure to welcome you to this important meeting which is essentially a follow up to the UN General Assembly Special Session on the Rights of the Child held in New York in May this year. It also provides an opportunity for the Caribbean to continue the process of building on the previous proposals for a Regional Framework to guide further initiatives in this area. The Secretariat wishes to acknowledge the support from UNICEF for this meeting and in particular for its sponsorship of the Background paper that will be a focus of the discussions.
His Excellency the Governor-General and Mrs. Ballantyne
Honourable Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves
Honourable Members of the Council of Ministers of the Caribbean Forum of ACP States
>Honourable Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Island
Representatives of the European Commission
Representatives of the Regional negotiating Machinery
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Distinguished Delegates
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Mr. Chairman,
Honourable Ministers,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Officials of Member States
Representatives of Regional and International Organisations
Distinguished guests
Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat
Ladies and Gentlemen_
Good Morning.