Speeches

The Chief Minister of Montserrat, the Honourable David Brandt, has praised his CARICOM colleagues for the support given to Montserrat. He specifically referred to the building of houses on the island since the disruption caused by the Lang Soufriere volcano.

Speaking on the first working day of the 20^th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, held in Trinidad and Tobago, the Chief Minister reminded that Montserrat has had a hard time since the Lang Soufriere volcano started to act up about four years ago.

Distinguished Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
Other Colleague Heads of Government
Secretary General
Ladies and Gentlemen_

In 1986, the Rt. Excellent Errol Barrow closed what was to be his final address to this Conference of Heads by citing the words of John Bunyan in Pilgrim's Progress_

"Though with much difficulty I have come hither, yet do I not repent me of the trouble I have taken".

He was obviously also speaking on my behalf.

Esteemed Colleagues,
Distinguished Ministers of Foreign Affairs,
Distinguished Ambassadors,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is, indeed, a great pleasure for me to attend the Twentieth Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Trinidad and Tobago. I would like to express my thanks to the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago for the gracious hospitality extended to my delegation and me.

Your excellency the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Your Excellency the Prime Minister of Spain
The Hon. Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and
Chairman of the Caribbean Community
Heads of Government
Secretary-General Carrington
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen_

It is my singular pleasure to extend a warm welcome to this distinguished assembly, at this opening ceremony of the Twentieth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.

I extend this welcome on behalf of the people and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) The Establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy and Agreement on the Caribbean Court of Justice are two principal issues which will engage the attention of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community when they convene the XX Meeting of the Conference in Port-of-Spain on July 4, 1999.

It is with deep regret that I received the news of the death last evening of the Honourable Vere Cornwall Bird Snr., O.C.C., former Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. With his passing, the Caribbean has lost the last surviving member of that illustrious team of visionaries who, more than fifty years ago, in Montego Bay, Jamaica conceived the vision of a United West Indies. From that time, the Honourable Vere Cornwall Bird diligently strove to attain this goal, combining his vision of a united Region with a strong vein of pragmatism.

Chief Veterinary Officers of CARICOM Member States will benefit from a three-day training Workshop on Animal Health Risk Assessment which will be held during the period 24-26 June 1999, at the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters, Georgetown, Guyana.