OPENING OF CARICOM SECRETARIAT HEADQUARTERS BUILDING TO TAKE PLACE IN GUYANA

(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) On Saturday, 19 February 2005 Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will assemble in Guyana for the opening of the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters Building.  In addition to the Community's Chairman and President of Suriname, His Excellency Drs. Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan and Guyana's President His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, a number of other officials will be in Guyana for the historic event. The Secretary-General of the Community His Excellency Mr. Edwin Carrington and other dignitaries, including former Secretaries-General of the Community, as well as current and former staff of the CARICOM Secretariat will also be in attendance. The President of Chile will lead his country's delegation to the event.

In a ceremony organised by the Government of Guyana, there will be speeches by three Heads of Government, namely the Chairman of the Community, the host President and The Most Honourable Percival J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica. The CARICOM Secretary-General will also deliver a speech and there will be a statement by a Special Envoy of the Government of Japan. The government of Japan was instrumental in the realisation of the headquarters building. There will also be a cultural programme and music by the Guyana Police Force Band.

The road towards the construction of permanent headquarters for the CARICOM Secretariat took a significant turn on Wednesday, 25 February 1998 when five Heads of Government of the Community and CARICOM Secretary-General turned the sod as a symbolic start for the building of the headquarters. The Heads of Government were, the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada; Her Excellency Janet Jagan, President of Guyana; Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados; Hon. Basdeo Panday, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and; Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia.

At the sod turning ceremony, Secretary-General Carrington said he was pleased that the first step to build the headquarters was taken during the silver jubilee of CARICOM, adding that the construction of the complex would enhance the institution's efficiency and its preparedness to enter the Twenty-first century.  On 17 April 2002 the contract for the construction of the building was signed and construction commenced shortly thereafter.