(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat now has a new Assistant Secretary General in charge of Human and Social Development. The new appointee is former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. Douglas Wilbert Slater.

Dr. Slater said he has chosen this new career path because he likes public service and wants to be of benefit to the wider Caribbean. According to him, he comes in as a “constituent of CARICOM” which allows him to be more cognizant of the difficulties being faced by Member States. He said he was also very aware of the challenges of the Secretariat including the lack of resources, but noted that efficiency and conservation will play a large role in addressing those issues.
The new Assistant Secretary General stated that with the Secretariat now deliberating on its work plan for the next year he is “intent to listen, read, engage and discuss with staff and the Secretary General” areas that will be prioritized under his portfolio. The consultations now being conducted across Member States would also assist in guiding this process, he said.
Speaking to the issue of integration, Dr. Slater said he was a “firm integrationist” and given this is the main goal of the Secretariat, he strongly supported all activities that would enhance regional integration.
Dr. Slater, a medical doctor by profession also holds a Masters in Public Health from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Sciences from University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados.