The 40^th Session of the Caribbean Meteorological Council (CMC) opened at the Sherbourne Centre in Barbados on 7^th December, 2000 with delegates and members from the Caribbean Meteorological Organisation (CMO), focussing mainly on arrangements for the implementation of a regional radar project.

The project will see radar systems established in four Caribbean countries - Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Belize.

As someone associated with the development of the Single Market and Economy, I most excitedly welcome the publication of the Caribbean Trade and Investment Report 2000. Empirical research has to be the foundation of meaningful policy-making, especially in our rapidly changing regional, hemispheric and global environment, and it is in that regard that this publication will contribute immensely to informing our deliberations on the deepening of the integration process.

The new radar network and the modification of the contribution formula of the Caribbean Meteorological Council (CMC) are key agenda items for the 40^th Meeting of the Caribbean Meteorological Council which will be convened in Bridgetown, Barbados on 7-8 December, 2000.

Excellency Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan, President of the Republic of Suriname and Mrs. Venetiaan,
The Vice-President of the Republic of Suriname, Jules Rattan Ajodhia and Mrs Ajodhia,
Excellency Hugo Chavez, President of the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela,
Excellency Jeltje van Nieuwenhoven, Speaker of the Lower Chamber House of the States General,
Excellency Pedro Edwin Croes, Speaker of the States of Aruba,
Excellency Dudley Lucia, Speaker of the States of the Netherlands Antilles,
Excellency Els Borst, Vice-Premier of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,