In my capacity as Lead Spokesman for the Caribbean Community on Bananas I sent off a letter on Saturday July 8, 2000 to the President of the General Affairs Council of the European Union Mr. Hubert Vedrine, expressing alarm at the recent proposals submitted by the Commission with a view to resolving the Banana dispute on Monday July 10, 2000.
The Twenty First Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), was held in Canouan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines on 2-5 July 2000.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am indeed honoured to have the privilege to address my Fellow Heads in the idyllic isle of Canouan, a special part of St Vincent and the Grenadians.
It has become a ritual for new Heads of Government in their maiden presentation at CARICOM Summits to chastise the sitting heads for converting our meetings into a "talk shop". However, they themselves are accused later of joining the "club".
Thank you Dr Carrington, our Secretary General of CARICOM
Your Excellency the Deputy Governor General of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Mr. Denniston Bobb and Mrs. Bobb
Colleague Heads of State and Government
Distinguished Ministers of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines
Other CARICOM Ministers
Leader of the Opposition, Hon Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines and other distinguished Members of Parliament
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Members of the Judiciary and the Clergy
The Deputy Governor- General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, His Excellency Mr. Denniston Bobb and Mrs. Bobb
The Rt. Hon. Sir James Mitchell, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Chairman of the Caribbean Community
Their Excellencies the Presidents of Guyana, Suriname and Haiti
The Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and Outgoing Chairman of the Caribbean Community
Other Distinguished Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
The Fifth Special Meeting of the Legal Affairs Committee comprising the Hon. Ministers responsible for Legal Affairs and Attorneys-General of the Caribbean Community was convened at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica from 19-21 June 2000. The welcome address was delivered by the Hon. David A.C. Simmons, QC, MP, Attorney-General and Minister of Home Affairs, Barbados, substantive chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee. Consonant with existing practice, the Hon. A.J.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has voiced its opposition to threats by the United States to suspend Haiti from the Organisation of American States (OAS), because of controversies surrounding that country's May 21st election results.
CARICOM Secretary-General, Mr. Edwin Carrington said the Community Council of Ministers meeting in Barbados at the time of the disturbing developments were shocked by the news and were " inclined against any action against Haiti at this time."
Honourable Ministers
Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a pleasure for me to be back in Barbados for this, the Sixth Meeting of the Community Council and I thank the Government of Barbados for offering to host this important meeting.
I gather that this is one in a series of meetings being held here to continue the process of developing and strengthening the legal and institutional framework to enable us to move forward in the achievement of our objectives - the deepening and widening of Caribbean integration.
Mr. Chairman
Hon. Sam Condor
Hon. Billie Miller, Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados
Hon. Ministers,
Distinguished Delegates
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen