(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) A new era in the history of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will be ushered in with the formal launch of the CARICOM Single Market on Monday 30 January in Kingston, Jamaica.
The event, due to start at 3 p.m Jamaica time (4 p.m Eastern Caribbean time) will be broadcast live throughout the Region from 3.30 p.m Jamaica time (4.30 p.m Eastern Caribbean time) via the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) and its affiliate stations. The ceremony will be held at the Mona Visitor’s Lodge on the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus, Jamaica.
The highlight of the formal launch will be the signing of two declarations by the Heads of Government of CARICOM. Six of them, from Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, will sign a document entitled the “Declaration by Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community Marking the Coming into Being of the CARICOM Single Market.” These Member States entered into Single Market arrangements on 1 January 2006.
Heads of Government of six other Member States, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines will sign a document entitled “Draft Declaration of Intent by Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community on the Participation of their Countries in the CARICOM Single Market.” These countries are expected to join the Single Market by 31 March 2006.
With respect to the three remaining Member States, The Bahamas and Haiti have not signified their intention to participate in the CSME process and Montserrat – a British Dependency, is awaiting the necessary instrument of entrustment from the United Kingdom Government.
CARICOM Secretary-General, His Excellency Edwin Carrington will be chairman of the proceedings, which will feature statements by CARICOM Heads of Government including Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government, the Honourable Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the Most Honourable P. J. Patterson, O.J, the Rt. Honourable Owen S. Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados, Head of Government with lead responsibility for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and Dr. the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
His Excellency the Governor General of Jamaica Sir Howard Cooke ON, GCMG, GCVO, CD and Lady Cooke head the list of dignitaries expected to attend the ceremony at which the University Singers will provide musical entertainment.
