The myriad issues before this Thirty-Second Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) speak to the breadth and depth of the regional integration movement and its impact on the everyday life of the citizens of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The discussions are taking place in what continues to be a difficult environment in the Region as a result of the global economic and financial crises, although there are some positive signs of recovery with some of our Member States being able to take advantage of the upturn in the
global economy.
Speeches
I am very grateful to the University of Technology, The University of the West Indies and the National Drug Council of Jamaica and the Diabetes Association of Jamaica for inviting me to speak at this prestigious Conference and the University Diabetes Outreach Programme (UNOPS) for bestowing on me this honour of the Sir Phillip Sherlock Award.
I have the signal honour and distinct pleasure to welcome you most warmly, to our part of the Caribbean Community; to our beautiful Twin Island State of St. Kitts and Nevis. We are indeed happy that you have found is possible to attend this, the 14th Meeting of CARICOM Council of Foreign and Community Relations ( COFCOR).
This Meeting comes at a time when as a Community we are being challenged to respond to a rapidly changing International Environment. One in which we must remain alert and responsive as we confront shifting priorities of our traditional partners.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) We meet at a time of unprecedented global tumult. Before we are able to fully absorb the scope and implications of one social, economic, or natural disaster, another emerges, as if to test mankind’s ability to absorb and respond.
Honourable Dr Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis
Honourable Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Honourable Sam Condor, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of COFCOR Distinguished Ministers of Foreign Affairs of CARICOM Member States Distinguished Guests Senior Officials and Delegates of Member States of CARICOM Member States Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat Representatives of the Media
Mr. Milton Haughton, Chairman of the Opening Ceremony activities
Colombia deserves the highest commendation for its timely initiative to promote this open debate of the Security Council on the “Question Concerning Haiti.”
I regard it as a singular privilege to have been invited to participate in this debate and to share insights as the Special Representative of CARICOM Heads of Government, a Community of 14 Sovereign nations which includes Haiti.
It is with pleasure that I welcome you to this Eighteenth Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Caribbean Forum of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (CARIFORUM).
You have come together in fulfillment of the mandate of the 17th Meeting of the Council of Ministers last November which set the agenda for this meeting. The fact that so many of the Member States are represented at the Ministerial level underscores the importance of the critical nature of the item to be discussed and that is also attached to deepening the relationship among CARIFORUM States.
It gives me much pleasure to welcome you to this Thirty-Fifth Special Meting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), which is devoted to Energy. This is indeed a special COTED as there has not been a Meeting of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Energy Ministers for a long time – our records show that this has not happened in more than two decades.