Welcome to Grenada. Welcome to Spice Country. Welcome to the Twenty-fifth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community. The people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique welcome you.
I am very pleased that all of my friends are here. Just a few days ago, one of my colleague Heads of Government asked whether or not I would be here.
Fortunately, being a cricketer, dealing with bouncers is ingrained in me. Thankfully though, bouncers are now limited to one per Over.
It is with a sense of profound appreciation, that I take this opportunity, on behalf of my colleague Heads of Government and the people of the Region, to say a very special thank you to Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer for his leadership at the helm of CARICOM these past few months.
As Chairman of CARICOM, I am delighted to welcome the Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands, as the most recent country seeking to become a full Member of the family of CARICOM nations.
Ladies and gentlemen, while every meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM is important, I believe this Meeting is of particular significance with respect to the process of Regional Integration and global developments. It is therefore fitting that CARICOM should mark its 31st anniversary at Grand Anse in Grenada.
Grenada has always been at the forefront for unity in the Caribbean. The late T. A. Marryshow dedicated a considerable amount of his time and energy championing the quest for ‘closer union,’ repeatedly advocating that the ‘West Indies must be West Indian’.
Grenada’s Father of Independence, the late Sir Eric Matthew Gairy, continued to promote the concept of a Federation and was among the first signatories to the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Indeed, Grenada and Grenadians have, in various ways, enriched our sense of ‘Caribbean-ness’ and sustained our passion for Caribbean Integration. I consider myself one of these Grenadians, and I therefore pledge Grenada’s continued and steadfast support for Regional Integration and development.
As I assume the chairmanship of CARICOM for the second time, I cannot help but reflect with a sense of tremendous pride on the past nine years as Prime Minister of Grenada and my responsibilities as CARICOM Head responsible for Science and Technology.
As the only leader to be re-elected in post-Independent Grenada, and in my case for three consecutive terms, I am deeply humbled by the confidence the citizens have placed in the policies and programmes we have successfully implemented since 1995.
I am therefore honoured to be standing before you today as your host Prime Minister and Chairman of our Caribbean family of nations. Moreover, with respect to my responsibility for Science and Technology in the Region, I am particularly pleased that we are launching two new initiatives that will serve to bring our people closer together. The launch of Radio CARICOM marks the beginning of a radio service that will ensure our nationals are kept more abreast of developments within the Community. This afternoon, listeners in Barbados, Belize, St. Lucia and Grenada will hear the service for the first time. During the next few weeks, it is our hope that the service will be expanded to all Member States. Today, we will also launch the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network, CKLN. This initiative will provide untold learning opportunities for our people. I take the opportunity to express appreciation to the World Bank and the Government of Canada for their support and encouragement for this initiative. The CKLN has its genesis in the decisions taken on Connectivity at the Summit of the Americas. While initial discussions began at the sub-regional level of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, it soon became evident that the Network should serve the wider CARICOM members. In the context of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy, as well as the dictates of the World Trade Organisation regulations and the eventual open borders within the Free Trade Area of the Americas, we know that fierce competition will be the order of the day.
Therefore, we must continue to raise the educational and skills levels of our people. This will happen more effectively and more universally through the CKLN. The Network will also help us to utilise economies of scale and enable us to collectively procure educational goods and services.
Sisters and brothers, as we approach the implementation of the CSME, we must accept the fact that more has to be done and done quickly. We need to accept the fact also, that there are still many Caribbean nationals who have doubts about the free movement of people. People fear for their jobs and security. We must show that the CSME can provide more job opportunities and more investment opportunities for all members of the Community. Indeed, we must show that all Member States are working tirelessly to minimize any fears regarding security and the free movement of our nationals.
We must show that the movement of people enhances the benefits to both the labour importing country and the labour exporting country.
We must show that the uninhibited movement of experience and knowledge is the ideal mechanism for ensuring that the benefits of Integration will be distributed to all Member countries.
Similarly, as we continue to transform and modernise our Region, with the CSME as one of its main pillars, we must explore and utilize our resources in a sustainable manner.
In this regard, we must all re-commit ourselves to the principles behind the establishment of the Common Fisheries Regime.
Indeed, the sustainability of our marine resources is essential, not only with respect to fisheries, but also in relation to our energy supplies for the Region.
Seismic studies have shown, without a doubt, that we have tremendous oil and natural gas reserves in our waters. In some cases, in our attempt to utilise this untapped resource, we must all work speedily towards settling boundary delimitation agreements among our respective countries.
Exploiting these resources has enormous implications for positive and far reaching social and economic developments in our countries. Grenada certainly understands this.
In addition, we need to focus on utilising the potentials of solar and wind energy. Clearly, as a Region we need to cooperate on these alternative energy sources.
We must therefore strengthen the capacity of the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Project to carry out its mandate on our behalf.
Sisters and brothers, in every organisation, in every contract, in every grouping, we must make provisions for a dispute settlement mechanism. CARICOM cannot successfully develop without its own mechanism for settling disputes.
We have defined the Caribbean Court of Justice, the CCJ, as our own Caribbean mechanism and we need to move with dispatch to bring this into operation.
Grenada is fully committed to the CCJ. We regard this institution as vital to the Integration process and the independence of the Region. We are saddened by those who continue to claim that the Caribbean is not ready for its own Court.
I therefore call on all Heads to ensure the appropriate steps are taken at the Parliamentary level in our respective countries so that the financing for this Court can be finalised.
It is my humble opinion that an independent judicial system is critical to the continued development of our Region.
Similarly, ladies and gentlemen, economic and social development cannot be fully achieved or maintained without harmony and stability.
In other words, harmony and stability are prerequisites for development.
We in Grenada know the cost of abandoning the principles of justice, social harmony and the rule of law. We know the bloody price of solving problems by confrontation and character assassination, rather than by dialogue and democratic elections.
We know the seriously negative repercussions that arise when political and other leaders are driven by hate, malice and a lust for power.
We understand what can happen when bullets replace ballots. This is why Grenada feels so strongly about what has transpired in Haiti.
Grenada’s movement from a democratic to a non-democratic and back to a democratic system of governance heightens our understanding of the crisis that the Haitian people face. To facilitate our return to democracy, Grenada received assistance and sympathetic support and the patience of many friendly countries and institutions.
We in CARICOM need to offer Haiti a similar package of support. While CARICOM has taken a very principled approach with respect to recent events in Haiti, I believe, colleague Heads, that the time has come to engage Haiti even more on the way forward for advancing democracy and development for the Haitian people. The Haitian people need their Caribbean brothers and sisters now!
Ladies and gentlemen, just as we cherish our democracy and the inherent freedoms that it provides, Grenada remains deeply committed to the principles of press rights and freedoms, for we remember only too well the bitter taste of censorship and intolerance.
We recognise the importance of an independent media. We also recognise the importance of a responsible media; a media which operates on the premise that facts take precedence over sensationalism. We therefore call upon press and other media organisations in the region to monitor media practitioners to ensure the highest standards are practised.
Colleagues, I feel certain that you would now wish to join me in expressing our collective appreciation to two stalwarts of Caribbean Integration.
Mr. Byron Blake, Assistant Secretary General, has contributed more than 30 years of service to the Community.
Mr. Blake has accompanied the process of CARICOM Integration from CARIFTA to Community and Common Market and now to the Single Market and Economy.
Mr. Jean Holder has, for nearly 30 years, served the Region in tourism and tourism-related fields. Most recently, Mr. Holder has served as Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.
I invite you to stand and join me in showing our collective appreciation to these two outstanding Caribbean statesmen – for theirs has truly been a labour of love.
Sisters and brothers, I cannot end my address this afternoon without reference to one of my greatest passions.
It may not be widely known, but there are very few things in life that I am more passionate about than cricket.
As we prepare for what will undoubtedly be one of the biggest events in the Region for years to come, our ability to cooperate will be absolutely crucial to our success.
Cricket World Cup 2007 provides a once-in-a-life-time opportunity for our Region to shine before the entire world.
There are many challenges we are facing with respect to hosting this international event.
These include: Transportation; Immigration and customs services; Accommodation, which will require the involvement of householders and the business community alike; Security and information sharing; Health care, emergency and other services; as well as, Financing, and a giant organisational effort by all concerned.
I must say how heartened I am by the support from all participating Governments, the Cricket Technical Advisory Group, the West Indies Cricket Board, the Cricket World Cup Committee and the CARICOM Secretariat. We have made considerable progress at the two meetings of the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Sub Committee on Cricket. There is a definite mood of compromise.
During my most recent discussions with the West Indies Cricket Board, I am even more convinced that the formula for profit sharing among the Board, local cricket associations and participating Governments will reflect that compromise. I have reason to believe that the formula will be based on six jurisdictions, taking into account the need for special considerations of the individual countries in the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands.
We will soon know what countries have been selected to host games, as well as the venues for specific games. I am looking forward to being part of the activities in Jamaica on July 13th when the specific venues are announced. When I was asked to participate, I did joke that I hoped I would not be announcing Grenada would not be getting a match!
Seriously though, all countries, whether they are selected or not, should recognise that Cricket World Cup 2007 will be a vitally important event for all of us.
A successful Cricket World Cup 2007 will facilitate enormous gains in tourism and other service sectors. Moreover, the benefits from profit sharing will filter through to every CARICOM Member State.
Colleagues, in closing, the agenda before us is significant. The Region is expecting us, once more, to resolve the outstanding issues so that our people can, without restrictions, get on with the business of Integration.
Let us remind ourselves, fellow Heads, it is not governments that integrate a Region. It is the people. All issues are within our competence and political will to resolve.
Let this meeting be outstanding for its focus, its spirit of consensus and the agreements we achieve as we proceed to fulfill our aspirations for true Caribbean Integration.
Sisters and brothers, as I started with cricket, I will end with cricket. In true team spirit, I implore you – “let us get on with the game”.
Thank you.
