Mr. Secretary-General; Hon. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Planning of Jamaica; Assistant Secretary-General, CARICOM; Hon. Prime Ministers; Colleague Ministers of Finance; Central Bank Governors; Representatives of the Donor Community; Delegates and Officials.
Mr. Chairman;
Right Honourable Prime Minister of Barbados;
Outgoing Chairman of the Council for Finance and Planning;
Other Ministers of Finance and Planning;
Central Bank Governors;
Representatives of International, Hemispheric and Regional Organisations;
Representatives of the Private Sector;
Distinguished Delegates;
Staff of the Caribbean Community Secretariat;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
The Suriname National Organising Committee has announced that the whole month of August will be dedicated to the celebration of Arts and Culture in the Caribbean. The Dutch republic will play host to the eighth CARIFESTA, which will be officially opened on 24th August in the capital, Paramaribo, and continuing for a period of seven days.
The CARIFESTA Committee has confirmed that plans are well underway to ensure a “unique” celebration of CARIFESTA.
Apart from the selection and fortunes of the West Indies Cricket team, there is no other issue that evokes, in this region, a richer, more sustained, more fierce, and more misplaced commentary than the purposes and workings of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
In both instances, the debate seems to be inspired by the desire of the people of the Caribbean for the region and its institutions to succeed, and the unwillingness therefore to accept any departure from full effort and best practice.
In a year when the Caribbean Community is celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Community’s Heads of Government, as well as the Trade and Finance Ministers and senior officials will culminate a series of meetings in Jamaica in June and July with the Twenty Fourth Regular meeting of the Heads of Government in Montego, 2-5 July 2003.
Grenada will host the fifth distinguished lecture as part of the celebrations to commemorate the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Dr. Compton Bourne, President of the Caribbean Development Bank, will deliver the lecture. It is entitled A Caribbean Community for All and will be held at the Norton Hall on 25th June 2003 commencing at 7:00p.m.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) extends its warmest congratulations to Senator the Honourable Julian Hunte, OBE, Minister of External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation of Saint Lucia on his recent election as President of the 58th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).