Mr. Chairman,
Elected Officials of New York State and New York City,
Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps,
The Hon. Sylvia Radix,
Dr. Edison Jackson,
Assistant Secretary-General of the CARICOM Secretariat,
Specially Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We share a world that is caught up in dramatic change, much of which have to do with the supplanting of long standing social and economic systems and the erosion and re-definition of time honoured relations.
My presence here today as Prime Minister is the consequence of an electoral choice that is without precedent in the post-independence history of my country.
It focuses my mind on the fact that we live in unprecedented times ā in a world caught up with difficult and dangerous new tensions, and confronted with blistering and bewildering change that makes it often very difficult for our people to see the future.
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.
My presence here today as Prime Minister is the consequence of an electoral choice that is without precedent in the post-independence history of my country.
It focuses my mind on the fact that we live in unprecedented times ā in a world caught up with difficult and dangerous new tensions, and confronted with blistering and bewildering change that makes it often very difficult for our people to see the future.
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The event which we celebrate this evening will hopefully come to be regarded not so much as a small step in the creation of a Unit, but a giant step in our support of a cause. For it ushers in the formal commencement of the new economic arrangement for our region which hopefully will create for us a future which will be unrecognisable and more prosperous than the past out of which we have emerged. |
Your Excellency, The Governor General of the Bahamas,
Prime Minister Ingraham and fellow Heads of Government,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen_
I am delighted to return to Nassau to enjoy once more the excellent company of my good friend and colleague, Prime Minister Ingraham and the hospitality of his beautiful country, while doing the region's work.
I am especially pleased that on this occasion I have the honour of transferring from my hand to his the mantle of Chairmanship of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.
Your Excellency, The Governor General of the Bahamas,
Prime Minister Ingraham and fellow Heads of Government,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen_
I am delighted to return to Nassau to enjoy once more the excellent company of my good friend and colleague, Prime Minister Ingraham and the hospitality of his beautiful country, while doing the region's work.
I am especially pleased that on this occasion I have the honour of transferring from my hand to his the mantle of Chairmanship of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.
I address you today in the name of the people of the Caribbean Community. In that spirit, I am pleased to recognise that the enterprise we are engaged in today in Quebec City began in the Caribbean almost two centuries ago.
For it was in Jamaica in 1815 that the great apostle of freedom, Simon Bolivar, wrote in his famous letter, "More than anyone else, I desire to see America fashioned into the greatest nation in the world, greatest not so much by virtue of her area and wealth as, by her freedom and glory".
The Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community are deeply disturbed by events taking place in the Republic of Guyana, following the March 19, 2001 General Elections.
Reports indicate a deteriorating social and political situation characterised by outbreaks of violence, damage to property and loss of life.
It is altogether fitting that, on this day which has, allegedly, inspired the creation of so many happy unions, the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community should meet to advance the cause of Caribbean unity.
In the expectation that this meeting will be characterised by all the happier sentiments which the day evokes, I am greatly pleased on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados to offer you a warm welcome to our shores, and I require and command you to revel in the total hospitality that Barbados is anxious to afford.