(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), His Excellency Edwin Carrington on Wednesday 17 January acknowledged the role and importance of the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO) as a premier CARICOM institution.

The Secretary General’s acknowledgment came as he received, on behalf of the Caribbean Community, the official standard of the CMO from its Coordinating Director Mr. Tyrone Sutherland at the CARICOM Secretariat. In December 2005, the governing body of the CMO, the Caribbean Meteorological Council (CMC) approved the standard, following which it was officially unveiled at the 46th Session of the Council held in Antigua and Barbuda last December.

In brief remarks, Mr. Sutherland noted that as one of the longest standing regional institutions of CARICOM, the CMO was actively involved in coordinating its efforts at both the regional and international levels towards strengthening the region’s capacity to respond to climatic changes.

The CMO is the successor to the British Caribbean Meteorological Service which was established in 1951. It was replaced by the Caribbean Meteorological Service (CMS) in 1963 following the break-up of the Federation. In 1973, the CMS became the CMO following the independence of several Member States. Today, with a membership of sixteen, the institution, headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago, works closely with its training and research arm located in Barbados.

Its objectives include promoting and coordinating regional activities in the fields of meteorology and allied sciences, support and advice to governments on issues of an international nature affecting weather and climate, and representing the regional meteorological community’s interests at the international level.