As we, in the Caribbean, mark on 21 September, another observance of International Day of Peace with the rest of the world, we do so in the midst of an extremely dangerous and difficult period of multiple crises. As we look at the world today, we cannot escape the reality of widespread violence, gross abuses of international humanitarian law, atrocities against children, women and even entire communities, and open conflict. Our world is indeed confronted by a wide range of threats to peace and security.

These global challenges are so many appeals to the conscience and solidarity of the international community and require a unified response if peace is to be fostered and nurtured. The wise counsel of T. S. Eliot remains as pertinent today as yesterday: “Think not forever of yourselves, O Chiefs, nor of your own generation. Think of continuing generations of our families, think of our grandchildren and of those yet unborn, whose faces are coming from beneath the ground”.

Each of us needs to make the conscious effort to let peace take root inside of us so that its branches can reach out into the society and ultimately the world at large. Let us bring peace to our families and neighbourhoods, to our communities and states, and to the world.

In this Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010), I would like to suggest that as we, in the Caribbean Community, join with our peace loving brothers and sisters in the wider region and beyond, let us all endeavour to make a permanent commitment to peace.