In the Caribbean we see the future rushing at us as the high, to our eyes, impenetrable wall of the tidal wave bearing many developments under beautiful acronyms such as_ WTO, FTAA and CSME_ the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
Conference of Heads of Government
Your Excellency, The Governor General of the Bahamas,
Prime Minister Ingraham and fellow Heads of Government,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen_
I am delighted to return to Nassau to enjoy once more the excellent company of my good friend and colleague, Prime Minister Ingraham and the hospitality of his beautiful country, while doing the region's work.
I am especially pleased that on this occasion I have the honour of transferring from my hand to his the mantle of Chairmanship of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.
Mr. Chairman
His Excellency Governor General Sir Clifford Husbands
Colleague Prime Ministers
Cabinet Ministers
Members of Parliament
Secretary-General of CARICOM, Mr. Edwin Carrington
Other Distinguished GuestsLadies and Gentlemen
Mr. Chairman, I wish to express my gratitude for the warm welcome that you have extended to me at this, my first meeting, of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.
This evening marks a momentous occasion in Caribbean legal history. We are gathered here to take a giant step towards the completion of psychological, political and judicial independence.
The Agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is now ready for signature by Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community. It is in the nature of a Treaty.
Colleague Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community;
Honourable Ministers of Government of the Community;
Your Excellency Dr Edwin Carrington;
Sir Shridath Ramphal, CARICOM's Chief Negotiator;
Other Heads of Delegations;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen_
There is a particular privilege that comes with speaking last. I can refrain from saying what I intended to say, since that would be to repeat what the Heads who have preceded me have said already.
The Twelfth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community was held at the Sherbourne Conference Centre, Barbados from 14 to16 February 2001.
The Conference_
Having engaged in deep and wide-ranging exchange of views with His Excellency Jean-Bertrand Aristide, newly-elected President of Haiti on political developments in that country;
Having been assured by His Excellency of his commitment to take such action, as lies within his authority, to address certain concerns arising from the 21 May 2000 elections, especially regarding the election of Senators, and, having also been assured of his determination to establish a new Conseil Electoral Provisoire (CEP);
Heads of Government were informed that experts from the Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH) have determined the precise coordinates of the reference markers at Gracias a Dios, Garbutt's Falls and at the Mexican frontier in the north, the three points referred to in the 1859 "Convention between Great Britain and Guatemala relative to the Boundary of British Honduras"; and that they have drawn a line between these points on a map to show the line that divides the two countries.
Mr. Chairman, I believe that it is fitting that at this the first Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Community in this new millennium, taking place here in Barbados that we are recognising the contributions of three outstanding citizens of the Community to the process of regional integration. I salute the Rt. Hon. George Price of Belize; Sir George Alleyne of Barbados; and Dr. Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow of Trinidad and Tobago. I extend to them the heartiest congratulations of the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
His Excellency Sir Clifford Husbands, Governor-General of Barbados and Lady Husbands;
The Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
His Excellency the President of Suriname;
Distinguished Prime Ministers
Honourable Ministers;
Honourable Members of the Judiciary and the Bar;
Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps;
Chief Negotiator of the Regional Negotiating Machinery;
Distinguished Recipients of the Order of the Caribbean Community;