The Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Mr.Edwin Carrington on Thursday, 2 November 2000, met with the President of the Republic of Surname, H.E. Runaldo R. Venetiaan in his office in Paramaribo.
The Secretary-General’s visit is in keeping with the spirit and policy of the CARICOM Secretariat to meet and brief newly elected Heads of Government of Member States on key developments, opportunities and activities of CARICOM.
During the meeting, Mr. Carrington discussed issues among others, institutional revision of CARICOM, relations between CARICOM Secretariat and Suriname, the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), trade provisions under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and the African, Caribbean and Pacific- European Union (ACP/EU) Banana Regime under the Cotonou Agreement.
The Secretary General discussed with the President his portfolio in the quasi cabinet established by the Heads of Government.
Suriname currently holds the regional portfolio for Community Development and Cultural Cooperation, which include Youth, Culture, Gender and Sport.
The decision to establish the Quasi cabinet was made at the Seventh Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, held at Chaguaramas, in Trinidad and Tobago in October 1999.
The Secretary-General also held meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H. E. Maria E. Levens and high-ranking officials of the Ministry. Matters raised include strategic foreign policy and strengthening of Suriname’s role and participation within the regional and international environment.
It was agreed at the conclusion of the meetings, as a follow-up, that a team of specialists from the CARICOM Secretariat would visit the country to enhance Suriname’s active vibrancy in CARICOM.
“The private sector of Suriname needs to recognize and exploit more effectively the opportunities and possibilities within CARICOM and internationally”, cites Mr. Carrington.
A courtesy call by the Secretary-General on the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Hon. Jagernath Lachmon was made to highlight the up coming meeting of the Assembly of the Caribbean Community Parliamentarians (ACCP) in Belize on 17-18 November, this year.
Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, Assistant Secretary General for Foreign and Community Relations and Mr. Selwyn E. King, Public Relations Officer, accompanied Mr. Carrington.
