REMARKS BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) ON THE OCCASION OF THE CEREMONY FOR THE PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS BY HIS EXCELLENCY ANTHONY B. SEVERIN, AMBASSADOR OF SAINT LUCIA TO THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY,  24 JANUARY 2002, GEORGETOWN, GUYANA

It is indeed an honour and distinct pleasure to receive the Letter of Introduction from the Honourable Minister for External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation of Saint Lucia, the Honourable Julian Hunte appointing His Excellency Anthony Severin as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Saint Lucia to the Caribbean Community.

His Excellency Anthony Severin has had a close and longstanding relationship with the CARICOM Secretariat and the wider Caribbean Community through an interaction which began over a decade ago with his appointment as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Commerce.

Ambassador Severin has represented his country extensively throughout the Caribbean, the Western Hemisphere and further afield and has a wide range of experience not only in international negotiation, trade and policy development but also has a strong interest in culture and is a founding member of the noted Folk Research Centre in Saint Lucia of which he was an Associate Director. He was a stage manager and Financial Controller of the Saint Lucia delegation to CARIFESTA 1981 and is an Executive Member of the Saint Lucia Archaeological and Historical Society.

The appointment of Ambassadors to the Community arose out of a mandate issued by Heads of Government to accredit Ambassadors to the Region to allow for a more coordinated approach to regional policy and its implementation. As CARICOM continues to expand its role in the strengthening of the regional integration movement, Saint Lucia plays a significant role in this process through its lead role for Justice and Governance in the Quasi-Cabinet of Heads of Government.

Ambassador Severin therefore assumes this post at a time when the Region faces many challenges in this area. He is undoubtedly well equipped to ably contribute to the Community's deliberations on these matters as it seeks to strengthen the process of governance and democracy in the Caribbean Community.

It therefore gives me great pleasure to accept your Letter of Introduction on behalf of the Caribbean Community. Ambassador, please accept our warmest and heartiest congratulations.