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ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE HON, PATRICK MANNING, PRIME MINISTER, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE THE TWENTY-THIRD MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY, 3 JULY 2002, GEORGETOWN, GUYANA

Mr. Chairman
Colleague Heads of Government
Honourable Ministers
Secretary General
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

I am pleased to have received your invitation to address this Twenty-third Meeting of Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community and to join my distinguished colleagues on this occasion as we consider those critical issues which will determine the future of the integration process and the way forward.

Let me take this opportunity to congratulate you, President Jagdeo on your assumption to the Chair. I do hope that your tenure will be a most successful one.

I wish to thank the last two Chairmen, the former Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Hubert Ingraham and Prime Minister Said Musa of Belize for guiding us over the last two periods and to welcome to the fold the new Prime Minister of the Bahamas, The Honourable Perry Christie. We welcome also Haiti who joins us as a full-fledged member and Bermuda who is an Associate Member.

We meet today against the background of a number of pressing issues which will call into account our collective commitment to our responsibilities and, at worse, imperil the Caribbean Community if we fail to take decisive action.

In the case of Trinidad and Tobago, the last General Election resulted in a hung parliament, with both sides obtaining 18 seats. The political result is unprecedented for us and I am told equally unique in the Caribbean. Our people have responded to this development with tremendous maturity, undoubtedly an indication of their confidence that a resolution will be found within the framework of our democratic institutions.

If we are unable to elect a Speaker and/or pass a budget by October 31st the end of this current budget period, General Elections will be held in Trinidad and Tobago.

The issues which confront us as a Region include our security, in relation to the traffic in arms and illicit drugs, drug-related crimes and HIV/AIDS. If these are fairly cosmopolitan, they are no less significant for being so.

With specific reference to the scourge of HIV/AIDS which threaten to wreak havoc on our population, particularly the younger generation, the containment of the disease must now be accorded a new priority in our national consciousness. In this regard, enhanced levels of expenditure and the expansion of education programmes to increase awareness will be of critical importance to the Region.

From an administrative standpoint, concern has also been expressed about the range of regional institutions that Member States are struggling to finance. The situation is further exacerbated by the pressure on Member States to participate simultaneously in the negotiations to establish the Free Trade Area of the Americas, the World Trade Organisation and post Contonou (ACP/EU) fora.

The increasing number of meetings, both at the regional and international levels, challenges the financial and human resources of Member States and seriously compromises our capacity and capability to function effectively in increasingly demanding situations. The problem is reflected in and, accentuated by, the fact that some of our key regional institutions are experiencing difficulty in satisfactorily fulfilling their mandate.

It is very clear that our resources are now being stretched almost beyond their limit and therefore thee is a need to reconsider the institutional arrangements in the Community.

Given the fact that we no longer exist in a bi-polar world, the effects of globalisation post a threat to smaller economies such as ours. This situation will be further aggravated when the Free Trade Area of the Americas becomes a reality in 2005. Mr. Chairman, the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is of paramount importance to the cohesiveness of the Community in an increasingly globalised world. In view of this, we should strive for an earlier implementation date.

The CSME with its concomitant free movement of skilled nationals is central to the economic integration process. However, the arrangement necessary to achieve this must include a mechanism for protecting individual States from being swamped by inward migration. Let us put these things in place and move on.

That Trinidad and Tobago stands ready to play its part in this process is evidenced by our role as host of the Caribbean Court of Justice, and as a signatory tot he many related protocols, Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding.

Mr. Chairman, Trinidad and Tobago is cognisant of the role that we play in CARICOM trade, providing as we do, the largest market in terms of purchasing power. We also enjoy significant surpluses on merchandise trade, and therefore recognise that with these benefits comes a responsibility to assist in ensuring that the growth and development of the region are sustained.

Trinidad and Tobago is committed to doing its part.

On our assumption of Office and in keeping with our record of fiscal prudence my Government received in January, advice from a Cabinet-appointed Committee of independent experts that there existed a TT$1.7 billion gap in a budget of TT$15.0 billion. We are struggling to close that gap ever since. Thus, we are temporarily experiencing a very difficult financial situation.

Notwithstanding, we recognise that in the context of a globalised world, the ability to compete is critical and one of the greatest constraints faced by the Region is high and fluctuating energy costs.

Accordingly, we have been examining ways of reducing energy costs to the Region and even though our feasibility study has not been completed, even now it suggested that natural gas could be made available to the Reg ion through the following arrangements:

    A pipeline from Trinidad and Tobago, extending up the island chain to Martinique and Guadeloupe which would supply all those island including Barbados; and off-takes of this line would supply Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts/Nevis and Dominica;
    New technology in compressed natural gas suggests that Jamaica, Haiti and Guyana can be supplied by this mechanism;
    Belize would be supplied through an appropriate arrangements with Mexico;
    a proposal is still being developed to supply the Bahamas

These arrangements hold out a promise of a reduction of 30% in energy costs, including electricity, and would guarantee these countries price stability and predictability over the medium to long term.

Mr. Chairman, such a proposal can be facilitated if each country proposes to utilise the pipeline retains a participating interest in its ownership. This project would take a period of three years from the time the decision is taken to its full implementation.

I need hardly state the implication of this approach for advancing the regional integration process. Even so, I recall the discussions held recently with my colleague the Prime Minsiter of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and our commitment to identifying a path to political integration between our two countries and I invite other countries in the Region to participate in this Initiative.

Colleague Heads, as the CARICOM Head with responsibility for Security issues in the quasi-Cabinet, I am aware of the need or adequate provision to be made to safeguard the people and institutions in the Region. The fallout from the tragic events of September 11, 2001 have underscored the need for us to balance the sue of our scarce resources to ensure that our economic development is not hampered, while exploring new ways to improve the security of the Region.

You would therefore, have the opportunity to deliberate on the Chairman's Report on the CARICOM Task Force on Crime and Security and to make your recommendations on the best ways to resolve those issues relating to crime. Drugs and violence.

I consider it appropriate also, that with the entry into force of the Statute of the International Criminal Court (JCC).

It is our view that Trinidad and Tobago and the Region as a whole should harness the resultant goodwill, respect and recognition ensuing from the work of President Robinson.

As we enter the final stages int eh establishment of the Court, it is only fitting that a national of the Community is placed among the eighteen eminent persons who would guide the efforts and steer the course of this prestigious institution.

It is our intention, therefore to nominate a candidate for election as a Judge of the ICC. In this effort, Trinidad and Tobago feels certain it can count on the support of its CARICOM partners.

Mr. Chairman, we have arrived at a critical juncture in the development of our Region. Thirty years have elapsed since the establishment of the Caribbean Community. Over these years we have worked together to widen and deepen the integration process. We have realised some of the dreams of the founding fathers and many of our own.

We must be resolute in our determination to build upon the solid foundation that has already been laid, being mindful of the many challenges, which still confront the Region.

Certainly we must acknowledge the assistance we receive from outside the Region and recognise the importance of continued assistance in the future. However, let us not forget that as masters of our own destiny our individual and varied contributions are crucial as we strive to establish an indigenous regional body equal to the challenges it will face.

In this regard, I wish to thank the Secretary General and his predecessors, the Staff of the Secretariat and their predecessors and the many regional institutions for their unwavering support over the last thirty years.

In closing, I reiterate the support of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to the strengthening of the organs of the Community and I look forward to working with all of my distinguished colleagues over the next few days as we deliberate on the demanding agenda before us.

Finally, I have been assured that Trinidad and Tobago's candidature to be the host of the Permanent Secretariat of the Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA) would receive your endorsement. I therefore wish to convey the sincere appreciation of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for the trust and confidence that you have placed in us to advance the prospects of the region.

I also wish to place on record the appreciation of my delegation for the hospitality of our host, the Government and People of Guyana.

Thank you.

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