Bahamas

It is with deep regret that I have learnt of the death of Sir Gerald Cash. Sir Gerald’s role in the public life of The Bahamas is well documented attaining the highest office in the land, serving as Governor-General for 12 years after being an MP and a Senator.

The Caribbean Community recalls with affection that at the time of the accession of The Bahamas to CARICOM, Sir Gerald was the Head of State. Bahamians no doubt will remember him for the part he played during the 1956 Resolution that brought an end to racial discrimination in public places in their country.

Mr. Secretary-General, Mr. Chairman, Prime Minister Hinds, Colleague Heads of Government, distinguished delegations, Heads of regional and international organisations, Ladies and Gentlemen.

May I begin by thanking the Government and People of the Republic of Guyana, and you, Mr. President, for the excellent arrangements made for this meeting, and for the kind hospitality shown to the Bahamas delegation here in Guyana.

At the Third Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Caribbean and the Secretary of State of the United States Colin Powell, held on Thursday, 7 February 2002 in Nassau, The Bahamas, the Foreign Ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic, placed trade and investment issues firmly at the top of their agenda. They reminded the United States of the significant advantage it has been enjoying in its balance of trade with the Caribbean since the establishment of the Caribbean Basin Initiative in the mid 1980s.

Salutations

We are today convened for the fourth time in seven months; the frequency of our meetings a clear indication of the ever increasing intensity and complexity of the challenges facing our region today.

Caribbean governments have agreed to implement an aggressive advertising programme to get tourism, the main foreign exchange earner for a number of countries, back on track following the decline in arrivals after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

This was a major decision emerging from the Summit on Tourism held at Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, The Bahamas 8-9 December 2001, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Rt. Hon Hubert Ingraham.

Mr. Chairman, Rt. Hon Hubert Ingraham
Distinguished Heads of Government
Secretary General of CARICOM
Ministers of Government
Your Excellencies
Tourism Public and Private Sector Colleagues

Your Excellencies the Presidents of Guyana and Suriname
Colleague Heads of Government,
Honourable Ministers,
Representatives of Regional Organisations
Senior Government Officials,
Representatives of the Private Sector,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning,

In less that two months, CARICOM Heads of Government are once again meeting in The Bahamas, this time for a Tourism Summit on 8-9 December at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, The Bahamas.

Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community met in emergency session from 11-12 October, 2001 in Nassau, The Bahamas. Heads of Government in attendance were_ The Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham, Prime Minister of The Bahamas; the Rt. Hon Owen S. Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados; Dr. the Hon. Keith C. Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada; His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana; the Rt. Hon. Percival J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica; Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis; and Dr the Hon. Kenny D.