(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Suriname will be the centre of attention later this week in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) when two Regional Institutions will be launched at their headquarters in Paramaribo.
The launch of the Caribbean Regional Information and Translation Institute (CRITI) and the inauguration of the CARICOM Competition Commission will take place on Thursday 17 January and Friday 18 January respectively.
During the launch of CRITI, His Excellency the President of Suriname Drs Runaaldo Venetiaan and the Secretary-General of CARIFORUM, the Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP), His Excellency Edwin Carrington will sign an Headquarters Agreement between Suriname and CARIFORUM for the Institute and also unveil a plaque at the premises in Paramaribo. CARIFORUM consists of the Member States of CARICOM plus the Dominican Republic.
The Institute will facilitate official intra-CARIFORUM and intra-CARICOM communications at political and technical levels in the four (4) official languages of CARIFORUM, English, French, Spanish and Dutch. CRITI will also offer a translation and information service to professional bodies, and the general public on a cost recovery basis as part of its long term sustainability strategy.
The following day on Friday 18, President Venetiaan, and Mr Carrington in his role as Secretary-General of CARICOM will also participate in the inauguration of the Competition Commission. The ceremony, which begins at 2.30 Suriname time (1.30 Eastern Caribbean time and 12.30 in Jamaica and The Bahamas), will be telecast live via satellite through the services of the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) and ATV of Suriname.
Representatives of the Government of Barbados, which is the country with lead responsibility for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), the Jamaica Fair Trading Commission, the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) and the European Union (EU) will address the ceremony along with the President and the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General will also present the prize to the winner of the contest to select a logo for the Competition Commission.
The centre-piece of the ceremony is the installation of the seven Commissioners, including the Chairman, by the Honourable Justice Michael de la Bastide, Chairman of the Regional Judicial and Legal Service Commission.
The Commission was established under Chapter Eight of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas including the Single Market and Economy to promote economic efficiency, competition and protection of consumers. The provisions of the chapter prohibit agreements, decisions and concerted practices and the abuse of dominant positions which are incompatible with the CSME and the Commission is the body empowered to enforce the provisions.
