Honorable Ministers, Distinguished Deputy Secretary-General, Director General of the CRNM, Delegates, Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat, Representatives of regional bodies and private sector organizations, Friends of the media, Ladies and Gentlemen
At the beginning of this New Year I like to wish you all a prosperous and fruitful 2005. I hope that this year will bring our Caribbean Community great achievements.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is saddened by the passing of Dr. Kenneth Rattray. Dr. Rattray was both an accomplished diplomat and an eminent jurist who combined in a formidable mix, the skills and qualities of both professions in representing the interests of Jamaica, as well as the CARICOM Region.
Outgoing Chairman of COTED, Hon. Montgomery Daniel, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture St Vincent and the Grenadines
Incoming Chairman of COTED, Hon Michael Jong Tjien Fa, Minister of Trade and Industry of Suriname
Hon. Clement Rohee, Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation
Ministers of Government of Member States of the Community
Representatives of Institutions of the Caribbean Community
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Secretary-General, en route to Mauritius, sends best wishes.
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers of Trade participated in the Eighteenth Meeting of the Council For Trade and Economic Development (COTED), at the Le Meridian Pegasus hotel, Georgetown, Guyana 4-7 January 2005, under the chairmanship of Hon. Michael Jong Tjein Fa, Minister of Trade and Industry of Suriname.
The meeting focused on a range of issues relating to the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and took a number of decisions aimed at promoting the competitiveness of the Community in a liberalised global trade environment.
Madam Chairman, Minister Maria Levens; Outgoing Chairman, Minister Elvin Nimrod; Honourable Ministers, Delegates, Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat, Members of the media_
I take this opportunity to extend to each of you my very best wishes for a happy 2005 filled with meaningful achievements and good health. To visiting Ministers and members of their delegations_ welcome to Guyana and to the CARICOM Secretariat. I am confident that the next time I have the honour of welcoming you to the Secretariat, it will be in more spacious and salubrious surroundings.
Colleague Ministers and their distinguished delegates, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community and his hardworking staff. I would like to wish you all a healthy and prosperous new year. May CARICOM continue to be productive and beneficial to our Region.
Madam Chairman, Minister Maria Levens
Outgoing Chairman, Minister Elvin Nimrod
Honourable Ministers
Delegates
Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat
Members of the media_
Colleague Ministers and their distinguished delegates, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community and his hardworking staff. I would like to wish you all a healthy and prosperous new year. May CARICOM continue to be productive and beneficial to our Region.
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, His Excellency Edwin W. Carrington on Monday (December 20) led a delegation of senior staff of the CARICOM Secretariat to Suriname for a meeting with the President of the Republic of Suriname, His Excellency Dr. Runaldo Venetiaan, who assumes the chairmanship of the 15-member Community for six months from January 1, 2005.
December 8 of each year has been designated by Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community and the President of Cuba as CARICOM-Cuba Day. This day marks the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the first four independent CARICOM countries and the Government of Cuba in 1972. That historic act in Caribbean history was celebrated in December 2002 as leaders of the countries of the Caribbean Community and Cuba gathered in Havana, to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of those relations.