The Ninth Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community was held in Castries, Saint Lucia, on 13-14 November 2003. The Most Hon P.J. Patterson, ON, Prime Minister of Jamaica and current Chairman of the Conference presided over the Meeting.
Conference of Heads of Government
Following their decision of last July in Montego Bay, Jamaica, CARICOM Heads of Government will meet in special session in Castries, Saint Lucia on November 13-14, 2003 with a view to maintaining the momentum regarding a number of issues discussed at that July meeting.
The Heads of Government are to pay particular attention to issues surrounding governance of the Community, the key requirements for the implementation of the Single Market and Economy and energy.
Most Honourable P.J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairperson of CARICOM,
Distinguished Heads of State and Government of CARICOM
Your Excellencies_ Ministers, Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Delegates and friends
On behalf of the African Union and your brothers and sisters in Africa, I would like to thank you most sincerely for the privilege and opportunity you have given us to attend this 24th Regular Meeting of CARICOM, as well as join you as you celebrate the 30th Anniversary of CARICOM.
Governor General of Jamaica
Colleague Heads of Government
Your Excellency President of South Africa
Ministers of Government
Members of the Diplomatic Corp
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community
Excellences
Ladies and Gentlemen_
I am happy to be part of the formal opening today, of this 24th Meeting of the Conference of Heads in which we will celebrate one of the great moments for Caribbean Integration; our 30th anniversary of CARICOM.
Your Excellencies the Governor General of Jamaica and the Most Hon. Lady Cooke
Our Host, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, and our current CARICOM Chairman, the Most Hon. P. J. Patterson
Your Excellencies, the Presidents of the Republic of South Africa and of the Republic of Chile
Distinguished Heads of State and Government of Member States and Associate Member States of the Caribbean Community
Heads of International Organisations
Hon. Ministers
Your Excellencies and other Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Most Honourable Percival J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairman of the Caribbean Community,
Your Excellency Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa and Chairman of the African Union,
Colleague Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community,
Honourable Ministers of Governments, Members of Parliaments and other elected officials,
Secretaries-General Carrington, Gaviria, Girvan and McKinnon
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen_
Your Excellencies the Most Honourable Sir Howard Cooke and Lady Cooke
President Thabo Mbeki
President Ricardo Lagos
Colleague Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
Specially Invited Dignitaries
Heads of International and Regional Organisations
Honourable Ministers and Members of Parliament
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community
Special Emissaries and Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Distinguished Delegates
Esteemed Guests_
INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME
In a year when the Caribbean Community is celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Community’s Heads of Government, as well as the Trade and Finance Ministers and senior officials will culminate a series of meetings in Jamaica in June and July with the Twenty Fourth Regular meeting of the Heads of Government in Montego, 2-5 July 2003.
My presence here today as Prime Minister is the consequence of an electoral choice that is without precedent in the post-independence history of my country.
It focuses my mind on the fact that we live in unprecedented times – in a world caught up with difficult and dangerous new tensions, and confronted with blistering and bewildering change that makes it often very difficult for our people to see the future.
The 14th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on 14-15 February 2003. It was presided over by immediate past Chairman, H.E. Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, in the absence of the Chairman, Hon. Pierre Charles, Prime Minister of Dominica who was indisposed.