Newly accredited Ambassador of Belize to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), H.E. Daniel Gutierez has said the best years of the integration movement lie ahead for what he calls the “tremendous untapped potential” that lies within the Region.

Speaking at a ceremony to present his letters of credence to CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque,  at the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters on Wednesday, Mr. Gutierez referenced his Prime Minister’s New Year Address in which he heralded 2016 as a landmark year for the integration movement.

Against this backdrop, Mr. Gutierez said: “I am not the first and will not be the last to speak of the untold wealth, underdeveloped talent and the unshakable hope that characterize the brotherhood of nations that call themselves CARICOM.”

“But as leaders and servants we are obligated to diagnose, understand and engineer solutions that will guide our people to resilience in the troubling waters ahead. The skies ahead darken with climate change, economic uncertainty, a haunting gap in education and technology with our global competitors and any number of parallel global challenges. Undaunted we shall remain.”

He added that the hard work which identified hurdles and proposed a Strategic Plan for the Community must be matched by action.

“2016 must be a year when words are made flesh. Low hanging fruit must be addressed with diligent haste and conviction.

The people of the Caribbean spring hope eternal, but that hope cannot be abused. We owe them, the pioneers at Chaguaramas and all our children our most energetic and unflinching commitment. Ladies and gentlemen, at CARICOM we must make 2016 a year of action,”       the Belizean Envoy stated.