Minister, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, is leading the Federation's delegation to the Formal Inauguration of the CARICOM Single Market in Jamaica next week.

The St. Kitts and Nevis leader will be among regional Heads of Government who will sign a Declaration by Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community Marking the Coming into Being of the CARICOM Single Market and a Declaration of Intent by Heads of the Caribbean Community on the Participation of their Countries in the CARICOM Single Market.

The Inauguration Ceremony will take place on Monday 30th January in the Gold

Room of the Mona Visitor's Lodge at the University of the West Indies in Kingston.

Speakers during the Ceremony include host Prime Minister, the Most Hon. P.J.

Patterson of Jamaica; Chairman of the Conference of Caribbean Heads of Government, Prime Minister the Hon. Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago; Lead Head of Government with responsibility for the CSME and Prime Minister of Barbados, the Right Hon. Owen Arthur and a Head of Government representing the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

The Ceremony will also be attended by National Leaders of Parliamentary Opposition, Representative of Regional Institutions, Private Sector, Labour,

Civil Society, International and Donor Community and Caribbean personalities.

Barbados, Belize Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago entered the Single Market on January 1st 2006. St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines will become Single Market compliant by the end of the first quarter of 2006.

Prime Minister Douglas will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry and Commerce, Dr. the Hon. Timothy  Harris; Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, the Hon. Malcolm Guishard, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, Utilities, Transport and Posts, Mr. Oaklyn Peets; Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Erasmus Williams.-