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Speeches
I would like to begin these remarks by extending my appreciation to Honourable Prime Minister Douglas for organising this important consultation on Youth Crime and Violence in our society. This issue is central to the investigations being carried out by the Caribbean Commission on Youth Development (CCYD) appointed by the Conference of Heads of Government, which is due to complete its Report later this year.
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It is my pleasure to be present at this important Ministerial Meeting on HIV and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, when representatives from across our Hemisphere try to grapple with the critical developments, consolidate approaches and shape new initiatives for an adequate response to the disease that has challenged the World for over 20 years. |
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A very warm welcome to you all, to the Twentieth Meeting of the Regional Cultural Committee, on behalf of our Secretary General, His Excellency Mr. Edwin Carrington, and also the Assistant Secretary General for Human and Social Development, Dr. |
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The services sector is the largest and fastest growing sector of the world economy, providing more than 60% of the GDP in many countries and an even larger percentage of employment. For example, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism is the world's largest employer, accounting for one in ten workers worldwide. Figures show that in 2000 services trade represented over one third of total trade in goods and services. |
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Ambassador Elizabeth Harper, Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana Professor E. Nigel Harris, Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies Your Excellency Albert Ramdin, Assistant-Secretary-General of the OAS Mr Henry Charles, Director Commonwealth Youth Programme and Representative of the Commonwealth Secretariat |
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High Commissioner Faith Radebe Plenipotentiary Representative (Designate) of the Republic of South Africa to the Caribbean Community Deputy Secretary-General Other Members of the Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat Participants of the Regional Diplomatic Training Programme Representatives of the Media |
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I want to begin by congratulating the CARICOM Secretariat on the mounting of this Workshop. It is no secret that I place great store by the role of Caribbean diplomacy over nearly fifty years of engagement with the international community. Some of our most notable achievements have been in this field – at the United Nations, in the Non-aligned Movement, in the Commonwealth, in Brussels and in Geneva, in the ACP and at the OAS – and always on the right side of history! You are heirs to a great tradition. It will be your challenge to enhance it.