H. E. Mr. Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will lead staff of the CARICOM Secretariat in commemorating CARICOM Day 2004 by honouring and remembering senior citizens in Guyana on Saturday, 24 July 2004.

This "different, yet meaningful way", of celebrating CARICOM Day 2004 recognises that senior citizens are an important part of the Community, but as a group, they are rarely singled out for recognition.

On 24 July, the members of the Secretariat's Executive Management Committee, headed by the Secretary-General will lead teams comprising staff of the CARICOM Secretariat on visits to the various homes and institutions for senior citizens. They will interact with the seniors and present them with tokens of appreciation. In addition, the homes will receive gifts that will be of benefit to the residents.

CARICOM Secretariat staff will visit homes in Guyana's capital city Georgetown and other districts across the country.

This is the third time in recent years that the CARICOM Secretary-General has used the occasion of CARICOM Day to honour a segment of the regional Community. In 1999, the CARICOM Secretary-General paid tribute to the Region's children, hosting a day of activities for Guyana's children at his official residence,  and in 2002 members of the Region's civil society were honoured.

The Treaty establishing the Caribbean Community was signed at Chaguaramas in Trinidad and Tobago on 4 July 1973, CARICOM Day. Heads of Government of the Community traditionally commence their Regular meeting on 4 July while the Community's Secretary-General, undertakes activities in Guyana, the headquarters of CARICOM, to commemorate the occasion.

Contact: Rose Blenman;
E-mail: rblenman@caricom.org