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STATEMENT FOR THE PRESS FROM CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FIFTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION, 10-14 SEPTEMBER 2003, CANCUN, MEXICO

Today the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Cancun, Mexico, at which all Caribbean Countries were present, ended without agreement on the many key issues. Billed as a Conference to advance the Doha Development Round of Trade Negotiations, the Conference collapsed on the key issues for developing countries such as agriculture, non-agricultural market access, small economies and special and differential treatment, as well as on the so-called Singapore issues – investment, government procurement, competition policy and trade facilitation measures.

OPENING REMARKS BY EDWIN CARRINGTON, SECRETARY-GENERAL, CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY, AT THE SECOND SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (COTED) ON THE REGIONAL NEGOTIATING MACHINERY (RNM), 9 SEPTEMBER 1999,  GEORGETOWN, GUYANA

Mr. Chairman
Honourable Minister
Chief Negotiator of the Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM)
Chief Technical Adviser of the RNM
Distinguished Delegates
Staff of the RNM and the Secretariat
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

Allow me to bid you all welcome to the Second Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development convened to deal with matters being handled by the RNM.

Bilateral discussions on sugar exports

Export of sugar to Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago was the subject of separate and successful bilateral discussions between Minister of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation of Guyana Clement Rohee and his counterparts from the two sister CARICOM countries, K.D Knight of Jamaica and Kenneth Valley of Trinidad and Tobago. These discussions took place during the just concluded Special meeting of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), which took place in Georgetown, Guyana, 1-4 September 2003.

JAPAN HONOURS CARICOM

In a brief ceremony held at the Headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana, last Thursday (4th September), the Secretary General of CARICOM, Mr. Edwin Carrington received on behalf of the people of the Community a Plaque to mark the distinction of co-operation between the Region, and Japan’s External Trade Organisation. (JETRO).

WELCOME REMARKS BY AMB. LOLITA APPLEWAITE, DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL, CARICOM, TO PARTICIPANTS OF THE SATELLITE CARIFESTA VIII SYMPOSIUM, 25 AUGUST 2003, SURINAME

Salutations:

The juncture of the celebration of CARIFESTA VIII here in Suriname, and the 30th Anniversary year of the Caribbean Community, is an ideal time for the CARICOM Secretariat and our private sector partner, TELESUR to join resources in exploring the rich potential of mind, technology and the impact on art and culture in the Caribbean. Certainly, there is no better time and no more suitable place for this event to be taking place.