Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Turkeyen, Georgetown, Guyana - The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat is saddened at the passing of Hayden Blades of Barbados, a former regional public servant.

Mr. Blades contributed immensely to several key regional institutions, including the CARICOM Secretariat, where he served for more than twenty years, including as Director for Trade, Agriculture, Export Promotion, and Air and Sea Transportation.

He was also Executive Director of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and Officer-in-Charge of the CARICOM Haiti Office.

We acknowledge his many years of dedicated service to regional integration and development efforts and extend condolences to his former colleagues and family members.