(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) You are no stranger to the Caribbean Community family as you have represented your country at numerous Meetings of the Councils of CARICOM. Nevertheless, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you in your new role as Antigua and Barbuda’s Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community.
You join the family of Plenipotentiary Representatives to the Community at a crucial time. The progress of CARICOM’s integration process is being increasingly held up to critical external analysis. The Caribbean Community Secretariat itself is undergoing introspection and has embarked on a far-reaching change management process. The objective of these efforts is to bring about a more vibrant Community, serving the people of the Region more effectively.
Having worked closely with you over the years, I have every confidence that you will contribute to the discussions on issues of importance to the Region. Through your appointment, Antigua and Barbuda is once again demonstrating its commitment to strengthening the fabric of the Community. Excellency, ever since your country served as host of the Meeting which witnessed the signing of one of the most important documents in the history of the regional integration process – CARIFTA – Antigua and Barbuda has been consistent in fulfilling its regional responsibilities.
As the Member State with lead responsibility for Services, a sector that is increasingly important to the economies of the Region, Antigua and Barbuda has continuously championed this cause for CARICOM at a regional and international level. In this regard, I wish to highlight the sterling work of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer in guiding the process of developing a Community-wide strategy for this sector and that the Member States participating in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy have agreed to develop and implement such a strategy starting this year.
In the area of Security, a major challenge for all our Member States, your country has done an excellent job in chairing the Council of Ministers for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) for approximately three years, a period during which regional security cooperation has been enhanced by a number of positive developments. In the area of Sustainable Development, Antigua and Barbuda has played a vital role in ensuring that the voice and presence of CARICOM are registered during regional and global negotiations and activities.
Only recently, Antigua and Barbuda served as Co-chair of the Bureau for the Preparatory Process of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development for the Rio +20 Summit. Moreover, Antigua and Barbuda has already secured its position as President of the Sixty-Eighth United Nations General Assembly scheduled for September of this year. Excellency, this list does not exhaust Antigua and Barbuda’s achievements and consequently does not capture all the reasons for which this Region is thankful for your country’s leadership.
Not surprisingly, in the spirit of Community solidarity and cooperation, the Region reiterates its full support for Antigua and Barbuda in its fight to obtain the compliance of the United States of America with the ruling of the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body on the subject of cross-border provision of gambling and betting services. This stance is also fully in keeping with CARICOM’s belief that all sovereign Member States should be regarded as equals, and respected accordingly within the WTO. Excellency, the CARICOM family will accompany Antigua and Barbuda on this challenging journey and looks forward to being kept abreast of its developments.
Ambassador Henry, it is evident that there is much work to be done and that there will be many opportunities for you to serve as the bridge between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Community. It is with these thoughts and sentiments that I extend my best wishes to the Government and People of Antigua and Barbuda and look forward to the continued dedication of your country in supporting the work of the Community.
I therefore receive, with pleasure, your Credentials as the Plenipotentiary Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the Caribbean Community and extend my best wishes for a successful and rewarding tour of duty.
