THEME_Â LEADERSHIP THROUGH PARTNERSHIP
It is my pleasure to bring greetings to the Chairman and delegates at the Opening Ceremony of the Fourth Annual General Meeting of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP). I regret that I cannot be physically present, but this is largely due to the fact that St. Kitts and Nevis is in the terminal stages of its general elections scheduled for 25th October (just four days away).
Regional experts on Climate Variability and Change in the Caribbean will meet in Barbados 25-27 October 2004 to prepare a joint plan of action for Regional risk reduction. They will also review specific issues including disaster management, adaptation to climate change, and the increasing risk and frequency of weather-related disasters.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will send an electoral monitoring mission to observe the General Elections in St. Kitts and Nevis on 25 October 2004 following an invitation from that country's Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L Douglas.
CARICOM leaders have recommended that financial assistance to Grenada be in the form of "grants and aid and not loans," and they agreed to support a call for a moratorium on Grenada's debt repayments.
At the conclusion of an emergency meeting of Heads held Wednesday 15 September, in Trinidad and Tobago, the Heads agreed on a number of arrangements and made several recommendations including an urgent call for the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to hold an emergency board meeting to "consider appropriate flexible arrangements" to assist Grenada.
CARICOM Customs officials will participate in a Customs Valuation Workshop to upgrade their skills in data collection for different valuation methods from 13-17 September, in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Workshop is part of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Commitment to CARICOM Member States to meet their WTO obligations and is aimed mainly at enhancing the trade positions of CARICOM countries in the global trade arena.
The Tenth Caribbean Community (CARICOM)- Japan Consultation was held at the CARICOM Headquarters in Georgetown on August 24, 2004. The delegation of CARICOM was headed by Ms Fay Housty, Director, Foreign Policy and External Economic Relations of the CARICOM Secretariat and that of Japan by Mr. Satoru Sato, Deputy Director-General, Latin America and Caribbean Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Twenty-seven young persons representing thirteen Member States and three Associate States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as Youth Ambassadors have been encouraged to develop and articulate a shared vision for the Caribbean that focuses on improving the quality of life for all in the Community. The charge was given by Deputy Secretary-General of CARICOM, Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite during an address at an induction ceremony for the CARICOM youth representatives held at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Headquarters St Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday (August 3).
The Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) - comprising the Chairman (the Prime Minister of Grenada), the Immediate Past Chairman (the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda), the Next Chairman (the President of Suriname) and the Secretary-General - has arrived at a recommendation on the Community's relations with the Interim Administration of Haiti.
In keeping with the decision taken by Heads of Government at their 25th Regular Meeting in Grenada 4-7 July, the 18th meeting of the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will be held at Grand Anse, Grenada on Wednesday (July 28) to receive the report of the CARICOM Ministerial team which visited Haiti earlier this month. The Bureau is comprised of the Chairman (The Prime Minister of Grenada), the Outgoing Chairman (The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda), the Incoming Chairman (The President of Suriname), and the Secretary General.
In keeping with the decision taken by Heads of Government at their 25th Regular Meeting in Grenada 4-7 July, the 18th meeting of the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will be held at Grand Anse, Grenada on Wednesday (July 28) to receive the report of the CARICOM Ministerial team which visited Haiti earlier this month. The Bureau is comprised of the Chairman (The Prime Minister of Grenada), the Outgoing Chairman (The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda), the Incoming Chairman (The President of Suriname), and the Secretary General.