Dear Colleagues,
If there is anyone in our midst who is of the belief that when we met in September 2004 at our First Stakeholders' Meeting, that that meeting took place in a backdrop of uncertainty, today as we meet at this Second Stakeholders' Meeting, the circumstances are even more ominous.
The dark cloud hovers over us as a result of the recent ruling by the WTO Appellate Body on the EU sugar case has not made the situation less worry-some.
Salutation
It is my pleasure to bring you greetings on behalf of the CARICOM Secretary-General and the staff of the Secretariat, and to thank you for attending this the Twelfth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD). This meeting is particularly significant as it convenes for the first time, Ministers with responsibility for Gender Affairs in the Region.
Permit me to begin by congratulating the truly impressive gathering of legal luminaries behind me on this stage today who, from the introductions and accomplishments we heard earlier, can certainly stand head to head with any team of jurists anywhere in the world.
Your Excellency Professor George Maxwell Richards, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Dr. Jean Ramjohn Richards;
Your Excellency President Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan, President of the Republic of Suriname and Chairman of CARICOM;
Your Excellency, President Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Republic of Guyana;
Hon. Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Other Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community Hon. Ministers of Government of the Caribbean Community
Your Excellency Professor George Maxwell Richards, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Dr. Jean Ramjohn Richards;
Your Excellency President Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan, President of the Republic of Suriname and Chairman of CARICOM;
Your Excellency, President Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Republic of Guyana;
Hon. Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Other Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community Hon. Ministers of Government of the Caribbean Community
The President of the Caribbean Court of Justice - The Rt. Honourable Mr. Justice Michael de la Bastide,
Honourable Justices of the Court,
Honourable Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, and other Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community,
Honourable Ministers,
Eminent Guests,
Your Excellencies,
Fellow West Indians_
A DAY WHICH RESONATES
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Your Excellency President Max Richards and Mrs. Richards |
Your Excellency Professor George Maxwell Richards, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Dr. Jean Ramjohn Richards;
Your Excellency President Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan, President of the Republic of Suriname and Chairman of CARICOM;
Your Excellency, President Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Republic of Guyana;
Hon. Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Other Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community Hon. Ministers of Government of the Caribbean Community
Permit me to begin by congratulating the truly impressive gathering of legal luminaries behind me on this stage today who, from the introductions and accomplishments we heard earlier, can certainly stand head to head with any team of jurists anywhere in the world.