Your Excellency, Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, Governor General of St. Kitts and Nevis
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, H.E. Edwin Carrington
Prime Minister of St. Kitts, the Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas
Fellow Heads of Government
All other officials recognised by the established protocol
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen
Good afternoon
I am delighted to return to Basseterre within two weeks of my last visit to enjoy once again, the excellent company of my professional and political colleague, Prime Minister Douglas. I look forward to enjoying the hospitality and ambiance of this beautiful twin island Federation, while attending my inaugural Caribbean Community Conference.
I am honoured to share the same platform as the incoming Heads of Government of Jamaica and Haiti. I do acknowledge your enormous challenges which are more that of our volcano in Montserrat.
I bring warm greetings from the people of Montserrat. Montserratians fully recognise the uniqueness of the Caribbean people: our common ancestry, history, heritage and purpose, as well as the need for regional integration. This was demonstrated decades ago, but notably in 1973, when the then Chief Minister of Montserrat, Mr. P. Austin Bramble, signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas. This commitment and legacy has allowed us, among other things, to stand proud of our record, determined to continue to mould and shape our Community into the unique image – “One Caribbean”. And so I reaffirm my Government’s commitment to maintain full membership in the Caribbean Community.
That Montserrat to date has been unable to sign the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, is insufficient reason for marginalisation. The Government of Montserrat has fully supported and facilitated the operationalisation of the Revised Treaty. On 29 January 200, Montserrat signed the Agreement to enable the Entry into Force of the Revised Treaty, as well as the Agreement between the Caribbean Community, which, among other things, maintains our relationship with the Community. Further, the Government of Montserrat on the 5 July 2004, two years ago, implemented a significant obligation, the Common External Tariff (CET).
Colleague Heads, you will all agree that things are not equal in all CARICOM Member States. In Montserrat, our vulnerability is even more acute. We have a bundle of special and unique challenges: for instance, our small size, a 60% reduced population – now only 4,000 but a diaspora of over 40,000; decreased economic activities in all sectors; environmental degradation; restricted borrowing capacity; and poor sectoral infrastructure. We have urgent need for proper port facilities to allow for the continuous export of volcanic by-products, and for the utilisation of our tourism products.
In 2004, the Government of Montserrat accepted the recommendations of the Report: CARICOM Single Market and Economy: Costs/Benefit Analysis to Montserrat. The fiscal adjustment suggested is a good starting point to craft Montserrat’s Development Model. I am pleased to inform you that my Government has contracted a competent regional consultant to, among other things, assist in crafting this Development Model, so that we can diligently and skillfully negotiate in order to obtain the necessary entrustments that will allow us to sign the Revised Treaty.
Montserrat has a unique resource – an active volcano. Its by-products include millions of tons of building and aggregate materials, which we have started supplying to the regional market. We also have geothermal energy that we intend to profitably convert into electricity. It is a potential source of cheap energy, beneficial to Montserrat and the Region.
Currently, the French Department of Guadeloupe has a 15-megawatt geothermal electricity plant which they plan to expand. My government will shortly hold discussions with their operators, and officials from Dominica, with a view to collaborating on the exploration of our geothermal source. The preliminary assessments are good, and we are advised that only a US$1.5M investment will be required to prove the source. This investment has the potential of generating millions of dollars for our economy, as well as clean, cheaper, fossil-fuel-free electricity.
We may have to seek assistance through a regional Development Fund project, if our United Kingdom partners do not provide that assistance for this investment.
My Government, and the people of Montserrat, require and deserve the Community’s continued sensitive and unwavering support and cooperation to mobilise both technical and financial resources, to fill the gaps that remain in key sectors such as tourism, culture, sports, agriculture, as well as the budgetary and capital aid programmes needed for our recovery. Our enduring needs are still critical and significant, eleven years after the start of the volcanic activities.
Colleague Heads, Montserrat and the other Overseas Countries and Territories in the Region have the potential to play a vital role in the construction of a substantial regional economy. This is so because of our geopolitical reality, our Constitutional status and our relationship with the European Community. I am hopeful that in the future there will be a common economic space among the Caribbean Community, the European Union and their overseas territories; perhaps enshrined in a Treaty of Allioaugana, a possible name for the new capital in Montserrat.
Colleague Heads, as you are aware, natural disasters respect no territorial boundaries. They often demand urgent national, regional and international attention. I take very seriously my assignment with Belize for Disaster Management in the Region, and pledge to provide coordinated, experienced and energized leadership to advance this regional agenda.
The people of Montserrat have unique experiences to share. In addition, our state-of-the-art Montserrat Volcano Observatory and Disaster Management Coordination Agency make us well placed to host the Region’s Institute for Disaster Management. We are keen to host summer camps, workshops at which adolescents and young adults are taught disaster risk perceptions, disaster prevention and management skills, as well as search and rescue techniques.
We must be proactive in order to minimise the effects of these catastrophes: hurricanes, floods, and volcanic eruptions. We must also do everything in our power to prevent and mitigate man-made disasters. None of our countries have the resources to independently provide effective disaster management, as well as port and airport security. This is a key justification for the maintenance of regional organisations such as CDERA, which has provided, for many years, essential coordinating functions.
Many of our regional institutions are short of money to perform efficiently and effectively. They do not have the resources needed to maintain the level of services and to guarantee security of our ports as well as airports. It is my function as CARICOM Head of Government assigned shared responsibilities for Disaster Management with Belize, to negotiate adequate financing for the institutions with this portfolio.
It is therefore my duty to share an idea of the Minister of National Security of St. Kitts and Nevis – one that I fully endorse, and make a plea for all Heads of Government to support.
All United States air travellers have had to pay an airport tax after the September 11 New York event. Tickets for cruises in the Caribbean could be charged a $20 levy or tax, payable at the time of purchase. An increase from $600 to $620 for the average ticket, would be acceptable for the improved port security that is required to maintain the levels of cruise ship visitors to our Region. The 7 million cruise tickets to the Region each year, will generate a fund which, if properly managed, can produce the funds needed for regional security and disaster management services, while at the same time reducing the financial burdens of Member States.
This is the kind of action that only a united CARICOM can take. The cruise ship operators may then regard this 0.03% tax as additional guarantee to make money in the Caribbean, and a less than the inflation rate increase in the charges for our sun, sea, good food and friendly people.
Colleague Heads, we have a serious responsibility to solve the problems of our Region. I therefore look forward to your collective wisdom and the guidance of Almighty God, during our constructive and friendly dialogue over the next few days.
I trust that the momentum and good will generate at this, my first Conference, will be strengthened in the coming months and become realities in the years ahead.
I thank you.
