Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados, accompanied by Secretary-General of the CARICOM Secretariat, Mr. Edwin Carrington, and Assistant Secretary-General, Foreign and Community Relations, Mr. Albert Ramdin, earlier this week concluded three days of consultations with key stakeholders in the Republic of Suriname.
Prime Minister Arthur told leaders of the private sector and civil society in the youngest member of CARICOM that the “mechanism for consultation is absolutely necessary to facilitate Suriname’s total partnership in the Community”.
While in Suriname, the delegation met with the President, His Excellency Runaldo Venetiaan and his Cabinet and discussed issues of critical importance to the economic, social, political and cultural development of the Community. Of significance to the deliberations was Suriname’s responsibilities under the Community’s quasi cabinet relating to Community Development and Cultural Cooperation, including Youth, Culture, Gender and Sport; and Prime Minister Arthur’s lead role in the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Matters pertaining to these areas were among the highlights of the discussions with Government functionaries. The talks also focused on Suriname’s membership in the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians (ACCP), two institutions of the Community.
Additionally, the negotiations for a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA); the upcoming Tourism Summit and the proposed encounter between the political leadership of the Community and Civil Society under the theme “Forward Together”, which are being coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat, were among the range of issues the consultations covered.
The CARICOM delegation also had the opportunity to brief other stakeholders of the Suriname Society on developments within the Community, particularly as these relate to the establishment of the CSME, and trade and investment prospects. Prime Minister Arthur and his team interfaced with representatives of the Trade Union Movement, the General Association of Contractors in Suriname, the Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and the Association of Surinamese Entrepreneurs.
In an unprecedented moment, the Chairman of the Caribbean Community, Prime Minister Arthur, was invited to address the Extraordinary Meeting of the National Assembly on the occasion of the 135th Anniversary of Suriname’s National Assembly.
Speaking on behalf of the Peoples and Governments of CARICOM, the Chairman informed the Parliamentarians that he was pleased at the enormous progress of the National Assembly over the past 135 years, in laying the foundation for good governance in Suriname. He also congratulated and saluted the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Hon. Jagernath Lachmon, for his outstanding and dedicated service to his country for more than half a century. Mr. Lachmon is reportedly the longest-serving elected member of a representative national body in the world.
During a press conference, which was held prior to the departure of the CARICOM delegation on 8 May 2001, Mr. Donavan Daal, a 15-year-old national of Suriname and winner of the fourth prize in the CARICOM Book Cover Design Competition, was introduced by the Secretary-General to the media. His prize includes a five-day visit to the CARICOM Secretariat and an autographed copy of the book.
