(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The historic Dickenson Bay in Antigua and Barbuda was the venue of the Opening Ceremony of the Twenty-Ninth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community.
Your Excellency, Dame Louise Lake-Tack Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda
Distinguished Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
Distinguished Secretary General of the Organisation of American States
Distinguished Secretary General of CARICOM
Distinguished Secretary General of the Commonwealth
Ministers of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda
Ministers of other CARICOM Governments
Madame President and Members of the Senate
Madame Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives
Honourable Members of the Judiciary
We have gathered again, as we do so frequently, this time in the beautiful islands of Antigua and Barbuda, and we must thank the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda for receiving us as splendidly as they have done.
We have come together as leaders of the 15 member countries and 5 associate countries that make up this Community. And let me say this, in case there be any doubt that still lingers: JAMAICA REMAINS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO CARICOM!
Chairpersons of the Opening Ceremony
Her Excellency Dame Louise Lake-Tack, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda
The Honourable Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
Colleague Heads of Government
Premiers, Chief Ministers and Leader of Government Business of the Associate Members of the Community
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community
Secretary General of the Organisation of American States
Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat
Your Excellency Dame Louise Lake-Tack, Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda
The Honourable Winston Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
Your Excellencies, Presidents of Guyana, Haiti and Suriname
Other Distinguished Heads of Government
Honourable Ministers
Secretaries-General of the Organisation of American States and of the Commonwealth [and of the Association of Caribbean States]
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Tourism will be the sole item facing the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as the working sessions of the 29th Meeting get underway on Wednesday 2 July, 2008 at the Hibiscus Room of the Jolly Beach Resort in Bolans, Antigua and Barbuda.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Jamaica's Barbara Evelyn Bailey, Director of the Centre for Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies has been selected as the recipient of the Ninth CARICOM Triennial Award for Women, 2008.
The Award was introduced in 1983 to recognize and honour Caribbean women who have made significant contributions to socio-economic development at the national and regional levels.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Education, the Hon Betrand Joseph has joined the band of Caribbean Community Ministers who are calling for greater collaboration and pooling of resources within the Community.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) St Kitts and Nevis are the undisputed champions of the CARICOM Regional Quiz Competition 2008.
In a keenly contested finals held on 1st July 2008, in Antigua and Barbuda, the team, comprising Yunoka Flemming, Kalea Clarke, Latoya Claxton and Rademis Tyson proved their mettle by beating the formidable Saint Lucian Team 41-37 points to hold on to the CARICOM Regional Quiz Trophy donated by Scotia Bank, and a cash award of US$1000 among other prizes.