CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – A joint WTO/IDB-INTAL 'Regional Workshop on Government Procurement for Caribbean Countries' was held in Trinidad and Tobago, October 18 to 20. The workshop was opened by Hon. Conrad Enhill, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. Mr. William Robinson, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Representative in Trinidad & Tobago and Mr. Kodjo Osei-Lah of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat also addressed the opening ceremony.
Trinidad and Tobago
Citing a recent study by the University of the West Indies (UWI) Health Economic Unit and the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), which estimates that by next year Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago could lose between 4 and 6.4% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a result of the impact of HIV/AIDS, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Mr. Edwin Carrington on Tuesday thanked the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for its assistance to the Region's HIV/AIDS programme.
Chairman, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tourism, International Trade and Transport of Antigua and Barbuda Honourable Ministers, Secretary General, Representatives of the CARICOM Secretariat, Distinguished Delegates, Members of the Media.
On behalf of the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago, it gives me great pleasure to welcome delegates to Port of Spain and to the Fourteenth Meeting of the Community Council of Ministers. As you are aware, Trinidad and Tobago did not hesitate to host this Meeting when the request was made by the Secretariat.
The Community Council of Ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the second highest Organ of the Community, held its Fourteenth Meeting on June 18, 2004 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Opening remarks were delivered by H.E. Mr. Edwin W. Carrington, Secretary-General of CARICOM; the Hon. Harold Lovell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tourism, International Trade and Transport of Antigua and Barbuda, who Chaired the Meeting; and the Honourable Knowlson Gift, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago.
A US$9 Mn World Bank Grant Agreement to support the work of the Caribbean Community-led Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) was signed on Wednesday, 28 April 2004 during the Opening Ceremony of the Tenth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), being held at the Tobago Hilton, Trinidad and Tobago.
Signing on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was H.E. Mr. Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General of CARICOM, and on behalf of the World Bank Ms. Caroline Anstey, Director, Latin America and the Caribbean Region.
Hon. John Rahael Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago
Other Honourable Ministers
Honourable Chief Secretary and Other Representatives of the Tobago House of Assembly
Ms Carole Ainstey Manager/Director World Bank
Other Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen_
Honorable Secretary-General of CARICOM, Distinguished Ministers and Country Representatives, Colleagues from Regional and International Organizations, Ladies and Gentlemen_
First and foremost, I would like to express our gratitude to the organizers of this meeting for giving us a chance to sign the Grant Agreement between CARICOM and the World Bank to support the implementation of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS.
It is my pleasure to welcome you all on behalf of the Directorate of Human and Social Development and indeed the entire CARICOM Secretariat. I wish in particular to thank you Minister and your staff at the Ministry of Health for making the arrangements for hosting this meeting. I also wish to express great pleasure that The Hon. Orville London Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly has graced this opening ceremony with his presence.
Hon. John Rahael, Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago
Assistant Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr. Carissa Etienne
Chairman of the Governing Council of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC),
Dr. Bhoe Tewarie and Members of the CAREC Council
Director of CAREC, Dr. James Hospedales and his Management team and staff
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Members of the Media
Other Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
Export of sugar to Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago was the subject of separate and successful bilateral discussions between Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation of Guyana Clement Rohee and his counterparts from the two sister CARICOM countries, K.D Knight of Jamaica and Kenneth Valley of Trinidad and Tobago. These discussions took place during the just concluded Special meeting of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), which took place in Georgetown, Guyana, 1-4 September 2003.