Mr Chairman
Principal of the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH)
Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is with extreme pleasure that I welcome you to this 40th Meeting of the Council of the Caribbean Meteorological Organisation (CMO).
As someone associated with the development of the Single Market and Economy, I most excitedly welcome the publication of the Caribbean Trade and Investment Report 2000. Empirical research has to be the foundation of meaningful policy-making, especially in our rapidly changing regional, hemispheric and global environment, and it is in that regard that this publication will contribute immensely to informing our deliberations on the deepening of the integration process.
As someone associated with the development of the Single Market and Economy, I most excitedly welcome the publication of the Caribbean Trade and Investment Report 2000. Empirical research has to be the foundation of meaningful policy-making, especially in our rapidly changing regional, hemispheric and global environment, and it is in that regard that this publication will contribute immensely to informing our deliberations on the deepening of the integration process.
Honourable Ministers
Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a pleasure for me to be back in Barbados for this, the Sixth Meeting of the Community Council and I thank the Government of Barbados for offering to host this important meeting.
I gather that this is one in a series of meetings being held here to continue the process of developing and strengthening the legal and institutional framework to enable us to move forward in the achievement of our objectives - the deepening and widening of Caribbean integration.
Mr. Chairman
Hon. Sam Condor
Hon. Billie Miller, Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados
Hon. Ministers,
Distinguished Delegates
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) has responsibility for overseeing all trade and economic development issues and covers all economic sectors of the Community.
This Meeting, its ninth focussed on the agriculture sector in addition to the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Attention was also paid to CARICOM external economic and trade relations and intra-regional trade arrangements.
While seeking to ensure that the key elements for the establishment of the CSME are in place namely, the following are being attended to:
A range of trade, economic and agricultural issues related to the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), is among the packed agenda for the Ninth Meeting of Ministers of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), which takes place in Barbados on 16th and 17 June, 2000.
COTED promotes trade and economic development within CARICOM and oversees the operations of the CSME.
CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is engaged in an all out effort to complete the institutional framework to take forward the regional integration process. Among the critical areas being addressed is the implementation of Protocol VII in which case the Community Council of Ministers will be defining a way forward. They will also look at the future of the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) and review the progress being made towards the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Jamaica, on Tuesday at the Second Special Meeting of the Council for Finance and Planning (COFAP), joined Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago in making an initial pledge to the regional Development Fund. Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago had made initial pledges last December at the First Special Meeting of COFAP.