(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana)The CARICOM Secretariat extends to the Association of Caribbean Media Workers heartiest congratulations on the election and installation of a new executive. Your organisation, representing as it does, media professionals from across the Caribbean region, is well placed to play a critical informational and educational role, as we take yet another important step to deepen the regional integration movement, with the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market in January 2006.

It is in appreciation of the pivotal role that the media professionals play in building regional integration, that they are among the category of workers to have enjoyed, from the outset, free movement in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Indeed, as the Region moves towards the full implementation of the CSME by January 2006, the media will be called upon to play an even greater role in the education of the people of the Caribbean on the CSME and other Community institutions.

The Caribbean Community is confident that the ACM will continue to build on the foundation laid since its inception in 2001, by playing its part in furthering the development of the Community through its various media and other communication outlets.

The CARICOM Secretariat looks forward to continue to building the excellent relations that we have traditionally enjoyed with media professionals in this Region.