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Your Excellency Secretary-General Carrington
Other distinguished guests Members of the Media Secretary-General, it is indeed a great honour for me to present to you, in the presence of those gathered, a Letter of Credence signed by Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith, on my appointment as Plenipotentiary Representative of Australia to the Caribbean Community.
As you will be aware, since its election in November 2007, the Australian Government has embarked on a policy to broaden, deepen and strengthen Australia’s relationships internationally, including with the countries of the Caribbean.
The reasons for this were enunciated in an address Australia’s Foreign Minister Smith gave to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) last year in Santiago de Chile, when he said, and I quote:
Later in the speech, Mr Smith highlighted the Caribbean as one region requiring new effort by Australia.
The principles and aspirations of CARICOM as defined by the Treaty of Chaguaramas have established CARICOM as the pre-eminent regional organisation of nation states in the Caribbean region. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on development cooperation between Australia and CARICOM on 29 November 2009 provided the catalyst for Australia to embark on a strengthening of relations with CARICOM. My appointment is the logical next step as we continue to engage more deeply.
Secretary-General, you will also be aware that Australia’s Foreign Minister, Mr Smith will be attending COFCOR in Dominica next week – further underlining the Australian Government’s earnest desire to continue to engage closely including at ministerial level. I know Mr. Smith is looking forward very much to the visit, and also to the discussions he has scheduled with Your Excellency, his regional counterparts, and other senior officials.
Secretary-General, I look forward during my tenure as Representative Plenipotentiary to the Caribbean Community, to build on the strong commitment of Australia by working collaboratively with CARICOM and its Member States, on matters of mutual interest, and in giving life to the MOU signed last year. Australia has valuable and relevant expertise to share with the Caribbean, and in return, we have much to learn from CARICOM Member States as well.
Not many are aware of some interesting historical links between Australia and the Caribbean, and I wish to share one of these today. I learned recently that the first Chief Justice of Western Australia, Sir Archibald Paull Burt, was born in St Kitts in 1810. Sir Archibald was appointed Chief Justice of the then newly created Supreme Court of the colony of Western Australia in June 1861, some fifty years before Australia achieved nationhood.
Prior to travelling to Western Australia in 1861, Sir Archibald was a member of the Legislative Council in St Christopher, was briefly Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and in 1848 was appointed Attorney-General. He also served as Chancellor of the Anglican diocese of Antigua. Born in St Kitts, Sir Archibald later passed away in Perth, Western Australia in 1879.
Sir Archibald left the colony of Western Australia only once in his sixteen years in office as Chief Justice, and that was to travel back to the Caribbean. His was a life dedicated to the pursuit of justice and institution building in two hemispheres, the Caribbean and Australia. This year marks the two hundredth anniversary of Sir Archibald’s birth in St. Kitts. Given the distance between our two hemispheres in an era then without air travel, I am sure you will agree this is a remarkable historical link between the Caribbean and Australia.
I am certain current developments between Australia and the Caribbean will further strengthen the fabric and add good depth to the relationships we share.
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity, Secretary-General, to thank you and, through you, also the staff of the CARICOM Secretariat for the assistance and close working relations my office already enjoys with the Secretariat.
At senior levels, Deputy Secretary-General Applewaithe, Assistant Secretary-General Granderson, and Ambassador Bissember have extended great assistance including during times of considerable workload pressure, as have more junior CARICOM officials. I, and the staff at my office, are deeply grateful for their endeavours on Australia’s behalf. We look forward to building o these interactions in the weeks, months, and years ahead.
I thank you sincerely for this opportunity today, and the warmth of the reception I have received here today.
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