Canada

CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)The Governments of Canada and France have expressed goodwill to the Heads of Government and people of the Caribbean following the formal launch of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market (CSM) on 30 January in Kingtson, Jamaica.

CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – Minister Pierre Pettigrew, the Canadian Minister of International Trade, met his CARICOM counterparts in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on March 10. The meeting was co-Chaired by Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Trade and Industry Hon. Kenneth Valley. The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to assess progress made in beleaguered global trade talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO Doha Agenda negotiations have stalled due to fundamental differences and entrenched positions on a number of key issues.

CARICOM AND CANADIAN TRADE OFFICIALS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WAY FORWARD IN TRADE TALKS CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS - “Both sides felt that the meeting was constructive. Today’s encounter has provided impetus for forward momentum in a process that is the precursor to the commencement of formal negotiations for an enhanced trade arrangement between CARICOM and Canada.” This was the view of the Director-General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), Ambassador Dr.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown) Relations between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Canada will be bolstered in the areas of crime and security cooperation, transportation and social development, with these areas identified for further discussion and priority attention by Canada's High Commissioner and Plenipotentiary Representative to CARICOM, His Excellency Bruno Picard.

CARICOM Heads of Government, in Abuja, Nigeria attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, on Sunday morning participated in a meeting of a different kind. They gathered together at a special breakfast session to bid farewell to one of the hemisphere’s outstanding leaders – outgoing Prime Minister of Canada, Rt. Hon. Jean Chrétien. CARICOM Heads of Government/Delegation in attendance were_ the Prime Ministers of The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago and the President of Guyana.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Trade Ministers will gather in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Monday 10 March 2003 for a one-day meeting with their Canadian counterpart, the Hon. Pierre Pettigrew.

Monday’s meeting at the Trinidad Hilton Hotel and Conference Centre comes just nine days after CARIFORUM Trade Ministers met with the European Union’s Trade Commissioner Mr Pascal Lamy in Castries, St Lucia. CARICOM Member States constitute 14 of the 16 CARIFORUM States.

Ambassador Lortie
Distinguished officials of the Government of Canada
Distinguished delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen

First of all, Ambassador Lortie, let me express my appreciation and that of my delegation to you for your kind opening remarks and to the Government of Canada for the warm welcome and kind hospitality extended to my delegation since our arrival.  In spite of these snowstorm conditions, the warm spirit of Canada which characterizes the special relationship which our Region has long enjoyed with your country has been very much in evidence.

The Caribbean should expect increased assistance from Canada as relations between that country and CARICOM have recently been strengthened with the appointment of its first Plenipotentiary Representative, His Excellency Serge Marcoux.

Honourable Ministers of Government
Excellencies
Members of Parliament and the Senate
Other Distinguished Guests
CARICOM Nationals
Ladies and Gentlemen