Dr. Weggoro, Director, Productive and Social Sector of the East African Community Secretariat, and Head of the East African Community delegation;
Representatives from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda;
Colleagues, staff of the CARICOM Secretariat including those of the CSME Unit in Barbados who are participating via Video Conference;
I am honoured to have the opportunity to welcome you today to the CARICOM Secretariat.
It is a great honour to be present at the opening of CARIFESTA X and a pleasure for me to be part of the exciting experience of this mega arts festival. I am also very happy, as Head of Government with lead responsibility for Culture, Youth, Gender and Sport in the Quasi-Cabinet of CARICOM to congratulate His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo and the People of the Republic of Guyana for bringing the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) back to the place where it originated thirty-six years ago.
Your Excellency Ellsworth John, Plenipotentiary Representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the Caribbean Community
General Counsel
Other Members of Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat
Other Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
Representatives of the Media
Honourable Secretary General,
I am pleased to bring you greetings from the President of the Republic of Chile, Mrs. Michelle Bachelet and from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alejandro Foxley.
It is truly a privilege to be welcomed by you in your capacity as Secretary General of CARICOM, understanding the enormous contribution being made by this institution in the noble task of uniting the people of the Caribbean.
Honourable Secretary General,
Honourable Secretary General,
I am pleased to bring you greetings from the President of the Republic of Chile, Mrs. Michelle Bachelet and from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alejandro Foxley.
It is truly a privilege to be welcomed by you in your capacity as Secretary General of CARICOM, understanding the enormous contribution being made by this institution in the noble task of uniting the people of the Caribbean.
Honourable Secretary General,
Your Excellency, Ambassador Zepeda
Members of Staff
Ladies and Gentlemen
Representatives of the Media
Good day! (Good Jamaica Day!)
CHAIRMAN OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY, THE RT. HON HUBERT INGRAHAM, PRIME MINISTER OF THE BAHAMAS
OTHER HEADS OF GOVERNMENT
HONOURABLE MINISTERS
HEADS OF DELEGATION
COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE
HEADS OF MILITARY ORGANISATIONS
DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA
Good Morning to you all. A warm welcome to this Thirteenth Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.
It gives me great pleasure as Chair of the Caribbean Community to welcome you all to this very important Special Meeting of the Conference.
Permit me first to thank Prime Minister Patrick Manning our host, not only for the excellent arrangements put in place to receive us but for his primary role in causing the Summit to take place.