This Meeting is being held under a pall of sadness. The people of Dominica last Sunday morning, without warning, lost their new Prime Minister, the Hon. Roosevelt Douglas, and are in mourning. The people of Canada, last Thursday lost their former Prime Minister and friend of the Caribbean, the Rt. Hon. Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
Let us observe one minute silence in their honour.
As we meet, the people of Belize are assessing the damage and counting the cost of Hurricane Keith. We give thanks that they have suffered no casualties. We share their losses however and convey to them our deep concern and our preparedness to assist in whatever way they might think fit, in their recovery and reconstruction effort.
Ministers, Officials of Member States and of regional international organisations, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Secretary-General, Mr. Edwin Carrington, is representing the Caribbean Community at the State Funeral of the late Prime Minister of Canada and therefore is unable to be present this afternoon. On his behalf, I am pleased to welcome you to this Fourth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development. I note that you have a challenging agenda but, even more importantly, deep-seated challenges in the social sectors of all our countries. Many of these challenges are multi sectoral. I am therefore pleased that there is a definite attempt to focus attention on themes that cut across the interests of the various sectors that make up this very important Council.
It is important for me to state now the great importance the Community and the Secretariat place on the work of this Council. Indeed, this Council focusses on the single most critical component of our Region’s development, namely, our human resources. As we seek to implement the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, we recognise that the critical dimension for its success is the confidence and creativity of our people; how well our human resources are developed and honed to cope in a competitive global arena. How prepared are we to accept, work and trade with each other. How much resources can be directed to promoting social as against combatting anti-social activities.
I am therefore happy at the thrust of your agenda which twins educational and labour issues, and forces all sectors to focus on the priorities of a youth programme. The specially convened Meeting of Ministers of Youth yesterday must provide the impetus to formulate priorities for youth empowerment . Also, the emphasis you are giving to culture as a vital instrument of development should jolt this Community to action coming, as it does, on the heels of a highly successful CARIFESTA VII. This gives me an opportunity to acknowledge the dynamic leadership of the Hon. Jacinth Lorna Henry-Martin, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture of St. Kitts and Nevis and the invaluable contribution of Ms. Carol Lawes, Deputy Programme Manager for Culture at the Secretariat. To you Minister, and to your team, we at the Secretariat extend our warmest gratitude and congratulations.
The Caribbean Community has set for itself the priority task of creating a Single Market and Economy. At the same time, international policies and action dictate that the Caribbean must organise itself and make its way in a global environment driven by competition; an environment in which many of its traditional products no longer command a strong market position. Global competition is being driven by technology and information – factors created by and imbedded in human resources. The creation of these factors are dependent on a conducive and supportive socio-cultural environment – an environment which builds confidence, encourages creativity and experimentation and produces a healthy population.
In welcoming you and wishing you success in your deliberations in this Fourth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development, I am very conscious that the success of the programme for which I have responsibility depends very significantly on your success.
Please let me succeed.
