(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), H.E. Edwin Carrington has urged pre-teen youths across Guyana to prepare themselves through “education and training” for involvement in the Community’s future leadership.

In Celebrating the Region’s Children in observance of CARICOM Day 2006, the Secretary-General played host to close to 200 youngsters ages 7-12 on the lawns of the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana on Saturday 22 July. His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana graced the occasion with his presence and also delivered a brief address to the children.

While welcoming his young guests, who were drawn from primary-level schools and institutions including orphanages, homes for neglected and abused children as well as those which care for the mentally and physically challenged, the Secretary-General cited the launch of the CARICOM Single Market in January as one of the significant achievements for the Community this year.

“You are the future of CARICOM and CARICOM is about your future,” Mr. Carrington told the children, whom he encouraged to listen to their teachers and parents since they served as the “best guides” to their development.

The Secretary-General also called on the pre-teens to dedicate themselves to studies as well as to demonstrate a “high level of discipline," adding that they should encourage their friends to do the same.

He alluded to the recent agreement by CARICOM Heads of Government to establish a Youth Development Commission to focus on the challenges confronting young people, noting that youth were considered important to the Region’s development agenda.

The children enjoyed themselves with pony rides, go carts, merry go-round, face-painting and the performance of a clown being the most popular forms of entertainment during the fun-filled afternoon.