“We owe it to the people of Haiti to do all that we can to ensure that they enjoy peace”
 |
| St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas arriving at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Thursday morning to Chair the 15th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (MARCH 25TH 2004) – A call from St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas for Caribbean leaders to resolve their differences with integrity, rededicate themselves to the ideals of regionalism and expedite the common ideals of the Caribbean People.
Dr. Douglas was asked to chair the 15th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the absence on the Incoming Chairman, the new Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Hon. Baldwin Spencer.
“Let us do so with the reminder that all our endeavours must bear direct relations to the welfare of the people of the Caribbean Region, particularly those of the Caribbean Community. Indeed, we have come a very long way. We have found more common fires to fight than ever before. We have benefited from the strength in numbers, yet there still remains too many barriers or impediments that prevent us from reaching the pinnacle of regional cooperation,” Dr. Douglas told the Opening Ceremony at which statements were made by Outgoing CARICOM Chairman, the Most Honourable, P.J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica;
On the situation in Haiti, Prime Minister Douglas said CARICOM must be determined and
 |
| Antigua and Barbuda's Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Harold Lovell; Jamaica's Prime Minister and Outgoing Chairman of CARICOM the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson; St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and Chair of the Meeting, the Hon. Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas and Secretary General of CARICOM, His Excellency Dr. Edwin Carrington. |
demonstrate to the world how to address the Haiti dilemma.
“We owe it to the people of Haiti to do all that we can to ensure that they enjoy the peace, security and good governance which we have enjoyed for so long in this Community. Regrettably, this has been an elusive dream of the people of Haiti for over 200 years,” said the St. Kitts and Nevis leader.
He said the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy must be pursued with a new sense of urgency if the region is to sustain the quality of life enjoyed in the Caribbean and urged that the necessary procedures be put in place to complete the process by 2005.
“As part of this process, it is important that all states ratify the amended Treaty of Chaguaramas, to give full meaning and purpose to what we are doing with the CSME. I must also point to the issue of movement of persons throughout the region, and the need to fine-tune all components, because, ultimately, it is a critical component in regards to the effective working of the Caricom Single Market and Economy,” said Dr. Douglas, who further pointed out that it is also critical to the functioning of the Caribbean Court of Justice, whose existence is of great importance to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
He said that six Member States of the grouping have a sugar industry that is critical to socio-economic conditions and although the industry is facing tremendous difficulties, such as the challenges that emanate out of the World Trade Organization, the expansion of sugar production in European Union member countries, the entry of the LDC’s in the already declining EC market, or the uncertainty of the long-term agreement between Tate & Lyle and ACP sugar producing countries, sugar still continues to be important for us as a major export and as a major employer of our people.
“Perhaps, in the context of the CSME, new thought can be brought to bear on this industry as well as that of the banana industry of the region. Certainly, the forces of diversification, modernisation production costs and competition are constantly nipping away at these industries. I believe that greater regional attention must be placed upon these industries as part of the overall development movement of the Caribbean region,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
The establishment of the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network, which is being
 |
| Prime Minister Douglas calls on Caribbean Leaders to resolve differences with integrity at the 15th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Photos/Erasmus Williams |
spearheaded by the World Bank and the OECS and regional transportation, were also important issues on the agenda.
“No one can claim that it is yet at a satisfactory level. The issue is by no means easy. In fact, they are quite difficult issues, given the economic of aviation in the region, and the wide disparity in market sizes in the Caribbean. Notwithstanding such impediments, we must strive to find the most efficient, economically productive means by which the Caribbean’s aviation industry can contribute more meaningfully to our tourism industry and to the citizens and residents of each of our countries,” Prime Minister Douglas told his colleagues.
On the issue of regional security, Prime Minister Douglas called on Caribbean leaders to ensure that all necessary precautions be taken to protect the people and the region.
“We cannot take any of these security issues for granted; rather we must actively pursue, develop and implement strategies and programmes to significantly reduce the risks to our region,” urged Prime Minister Douglas, who reminded the gathering that the point cannot be brought home anymore clearly of the need for top-notch security for the upcoming Cricket World Cup Series in 2007. “Our own preparation in this regard must be now, as the region would be in the bright glare of the global spotlight.”
Dr. Douglas said the issues before his fellow leaders bear direct relations to the welfare of the people of the Caribbean Community.
“Indeed, we have come a very long way. We have found more common fires to fight than ever before. We have benefited from the strength in numbers, yet there still remains too many barriers or impediments that prevent us from reaching the pinnacle of regional cooperation,” said Prime Minister Douglas as he urged the meeting to “rededicate ourselves to the ideals of regionalism, let us pledge to resolve our differences with integrity, and moving to expedite the common ideals of the Caribbean People in this Caribbean Community.”
