(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has called on the international community to make a “valiant effort” to help the parties involved in the conflict in Syria to reach a “negotiated political statement.”
Following is the full text of the statement:
CARICOM Statement on Syria
The Caribbean Community considers the early election of a new Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) important and necessary in light of the current challenges the hemispheric body is facing.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to be here with all of you at the Closing Ceremony of the Eleventh Caribbean Festival of Arts and to deliver these brief remarks on behalf of the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community, H.E Mr. Irwin LaRocque. This has been a very vibrant and exciting ten days of sharing and showcasing the many dimensions of our rich Caribbean culture, and that of our many visiting contingents of artists from UNASUR and other friends from outside our region.
A special and unique celebration of Caribbean culture begins here and now with the Opening Ceremony of this Eleventh commemoration of CARIFESTA. We have come from all over the Caribbean Community and are joined by our family and many friends from Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, to experience this magical evening and the festivities that will unfold in the next 10 days in Suriname, our wonderful host country.
Hon. Billie Miller, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados and Chairman of the Community Council of Ministers;
Other Hon. Ministers;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Distinguished Delegates;
Distinguished Guests;
Staff of the Secretariat;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I welcome this opportunity to greet teachers from across the Region, as you gather for your Biennial Conference.
I wish to extend a very warm welcome to all participants to the Third High-Level Forum on Donor Coordination. The last High-Level Forum was in July 2011 and much has transpired since. The gap between these Meetings has been too long but I am sure that over the next day and a half we will make up for the time lost.
Introduction
Let me begin my expressing appreciation for the warm words of welcome extended to me and my delegation this morning. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, with the current global events, all of which demand your attention, it is heartening that our Caribbean Community’s biennial encounter is of sufficient importance to ensure your presence.
On behalf of the Caribbean Community I have the signal honour and distinct pleasure to extend a very warm welcome to the distinguished delegation of Japan, particularly those of you that have travelled all the way from Japan to be with us today for the Sixteenth CARICOM-Japan Consultation.
May I also extend a warm welcome to my colleagues from the Member States of CARICOM, those who are here with us in Georgetown and those who are participating in capitals, via video conference.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Four international agencies have pledged their support in advancing the work of the recently-established CARICOM Commission on Youth Development (CCYD).