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
Member
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
Mr. Secretary-General; Hon. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Planning of Jamaica; Assistant Secretary-General, CARICOM; Hon. Prime Ministers; Colleague Ministers of Finance; Central Bank Governors; Representatives of the Donor Community; Delegates and Officials.
Mr. Chairman;
Right Honourable Prime Minister of Barbados;
Outgoing Chairman of the Council for Finance and Planning;
Other Ministers of Finance and Planning;
Central Bank Governors;
Representatives of International, Hemispheric and Regional Organisations;
Representatives of the Private Sector;
Distinguished Delegates;
Staff of the Caribbean Community Secretariat;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
The Suriname National Organising Committee has announced that the whole month of August will be dedicated to the celebration of Arts and Culture in the Caribbean. The Dutch republic will play host to the eighth CARIFESTA, which will be officially opened on 24th August in the capital, Paramaribo, and continuing for a period of seven days.
The CARIFESTA Committee has confirmed that plans are well underway to ensure a “unique” celebration of CARIFESTA.
Apart from the selection and fortunes of the West Indies Cricket team, there is no other issue that evokes, in this region, a richer, more sustained, more fierce, and more misplaced commentary than the purposes and workings of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
In both instances, the debate seems to be inspired by the desire of the people of the Caribbean for the region and its institutions to succeed, and the unwillingness therefore to accept any departure from full effort and best practice.
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.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) extends its warmest congratulations to Senator the Honourable Julian Hunte, OBE, Minister of External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation of Saint Lucia on his recent election as President of the 58th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The Caribbean Court of Justice in its continued Public Education Programme, on the 22-23 May, 2003 launched its public education programme in Haiti.
Haiti is the newest Member State embraced as a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The launch and first round of the education programme in Haiti, targeted the Judiciary and Magistracy.
The Haitian Judiciary was given the opportunity to discuss the CCJ in the context of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).