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| New York City Councilwoman, Yvette Clarke who will be Mistress of Ceremony at the Opening Dinner (photo courtesy of Hardbeatnews.com) |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 6TH 2005 - St. Kitts and Nevis - Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas will be among the speakers during the opening ceremony for the 10th Annual Caribbean Multi-National Business Conference in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands.
Dr Douglas, along with host United States Virgin Islands Governor, the Hon. Charles Turnbull, St. Lucia's Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony and Barbados' Foreign Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade, Dame Billie Miller Minister, are among regional leaders speaking at the opening.
Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and U.S. House of Representative, the Hon. Mel Watt and former New York Mayor, David Dinkins will also address the opening ceremony under the theme: "Building Business Strategies for Global Competitiveness."
Prime Minister Douglas has a busy scheduled and is slated to give separate keynote addresses on "Health, a strong investment sector for the Economy" and "Entrepreneurship in the Diaspora: Cross Border Linkage for Empowerment."
He has also been invited to participate in a Community Outreach Programme at the Charlotte Amalie High School Auditorium along with Harry Belafonte and other high ranking officials on the impact of health on the Caribbean economies, investment and infrastructural development, management and delivery of healthcare and collaboration between Caribbean health institutions.
Other topics down for discussion are "Globalisation - A Reality for the Caribbean,"; "Safety & Security of the Caribbean - US and Caribbean collaboration on the Problem,"; "US/Caribbean Relations - seeking an Effectiveness Partnership" with specific reference to safety and security, drug consumption and small arms.
Dr. Douglas will also participate in a Community Outreach Programme at the Charlotte Amalie High school Auditorium along with Harry Belafonte and other high ranking officials on the impact of health on the Caribbean economies, investment and infrastructural development, management and delivery of healthcare and collaboration between Caribbean institutions; management of disaster and recovery and the establishment of an hemispheric fund; and trade with a special and deferential treatment for the Caribbean Region. Other areas for discussion include, travel and tourism, cultural industries and Caribbean ideas for offshore medical facilities - a look at successful models.
Also expected to attend are New York City Councilwoman, Yvette Clarke; New York-based journalist, Tony Best; US House of Representatives Bennie Thompson, Gregory Meeks, Charles Rangel and Maxine Waters; Sandals Chairman, Gordon "Butch" Stewart, USVI Commissioner of Tourism, Pamela Richards, USVI Lt. Gov. Hon. Vargrave Richards, USVI Delegate to Congress, Donna Christensen, along with representatives of American Airlines, AT&T, Pfizer, IBM, Citi Bank and the University of the Virgin Islands
More than 300 business executives, government officials and entrepreneurs from the Caribbean and the U.S., as well as a dozen members of the U.S. House of Representatives at the four-day conference from November 10th to 13th.
