(Caribbean Community Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Madam Chair, Hon. Lisel Alamilla, Minister of Forestry, Sustainable Development and Indigenous Peoples of Belize

I extend to you all a very warm welcome to the 39th Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) which focuses on the environment and sustainable development.

(Caribbean Community Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) It is indeed a great pleasure and honour to be here and greet all my colleagues in the Caribbean Community, on the occasion of this important step in preparing for the Rio + 20 Summit.

Caribbean Community Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was assured of the support of Mexico with respect to advocating for small vulnerable economies in the upcoming meeting of the G20 which is being hosted by Mexico in June.

The assurance came at a meeting between CARICOM Heads of Government and the President of Mexico His Excellency Felipe Calderon in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, held on Friday prior to the Sixth Summit of the Americas being held in that city.

(Caribbean Community Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean leaders pressed United States President Barack Obama for greater support in securing the Region from the traffic in illegal narcotics and small arms. The leaders met in Cartagena, Colombia following the Sixth Summit of the Americas which ended on Sunday afternoon.

CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Twelve Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will be participating in the Sixth Summit of the Americas on 14-15 April 2012 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Two other Member States, Belize and The Bahamas will be represented by their Deputy Prime Ministers. CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque will also be attending the Summit on the invitation of the host, His Excellency President Juan Manuel Santos.