The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General Mr Edwin Carrington expressed his “joy and pleasure” after witnessing today's (17 April 2002) signing of the contract for the construction of a headquarters building for the CARICOM Secretariat.
The signing ceremony which also featured the President of Guyana, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, Dr Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Mr Gazz Nabi the head of the company selected to construct the complex, took place at the Office of the President in Georgetown, Guyana, the headquarters country of the Secretariat.
Mr Carrington said the signing was an “important step forward not just symbolically” and was a part of the new ethos of the Caribbean Community which he saw as a “living, active and growing institution.” He congratulated the Government of Guyana and thanked the President for making good on a commitment which was undertaken many years ago by the then Government of Guyana.
President Jagdeo noted he was pleased to keep that commitment and agreed with the Secretary-General that the location of the new headquarters at Liliendaal, approximately four miles from the centre of Georgetown, afforded the opportunity for the development of a hub for various international activities. Also to be constructed close to the Secretariat headquarters is a modern International Convention Centre. The site for the building is close to Ogle aerodrome and to the University of Guyana.
The Secretary- General had pointed out the advantages of having these other facilities close by, particularly if the Ogle aerodrome were developed to the standard of a municipal airport which would accommodate commuter flights from nearby countries such as Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela and Barbados. This easy access, he said, would allow for greater and more profitable use of the convention centre. The proximity of the University would also enable a greater level of interaction between that institution and the Secretariat, redounding to the benefit of both, he said.
Guyana's strong commitment to CARICOM was reiterated by President Jagdeo who said that any criticism of the regional integration movement should not be interpreted as a lack of commitment. He cited functional co-operation as a major success of the Community.
The Government of Guyana is contributing US $4 million through its National Insurance Scheme towards the construction of the building while the Government of Japan has provided US $4.2 million. It is expected the building will be completed within 18 months.
