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As Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, I am pleased to extend a very warm welcome to the distinguished delegations of Japan and of CARICOM to this Fourteenth CARICOM-Japan Consultations.
Ladies and Gentlemen, today’s Meeting is taking place in the shadow of a most tragic event – the passing of Dr. Tadaomi Nakai, former Adviser of the Government of Japan on Regional Project Formulation in the CARICOM Secretariat. Dr. Nakai served with great diligence, commitment and passion during his three-year tenure here at the Secretariat. During that period, he endeared himself to all staff of the Secretariat. Of an affable personality, Dr. Nakai participated in some of the Secretariat’s social and cultural activities. In return, he introduced staff to the various aspects of Japanese culture, especially its cuisine. Dr. Nakai will be tremendously missed by the staff of the CARICOM Secretariat. I therefore invite you all to join me now in observing a moment of silence in memory of, and in tribute to, Dr. Tadaomi Nakai for his important contribution, on behalf of his Government, to the Caribbean Community. The fact that we are convening for the fourteenth occasion, consultations between the Officials of CARICOM and Japan is testimony to the valuable and long-standing relations that have been forged between the Member States of the Caribbean Community and Japan since the formal establishment of our relations in 1993. Over that time, the relationship has experienced a number of highpoints. Significant among them, was the signing of the “New Framework for CARICOM-Japan Cooperation Agreement” at the inaugural Ministerial Meeting held in Japan in 2000. That Agreement established a context and structure for the furthering of our relations. Now, ten years later, having enjoyed the fruits of a mutually beneficial relationship within the context of that framework, we are looking forward to the convening of the Second CARICOM-Japan Ministerial Meeting in early September in Tokyo, where we will have an opportunity to review the relationship over the past decade and to discuss a revised Framework for our enhanced dialogue and cooperation. This Fourteenth CARICOM-Japan Consultation will be instrumental in the preparations for that Ministerial Meeting. I therefore look forward to fruitful discussions, not only as we review our technical cooperation relationship, but also as we exchange views on a number of common issues, including many in the wider international arena. Important among such issues is the global financial and economic crisis, and Climate Change. Another most important issue is that of assistance to our CARICOM sister Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake of January last. In this regard, I would like to commend Japan for its immediate and significant response to this catastrophic event, through the generous provision of humanitarian and financial assistance. I expect that our discussions today will delve into the ways in which CARICOM and Japan can collaborate on further support to this member of our Community. In closing, I reiterate my warm welcome to you all and look forward to focused and fruitful discussions towards the further consolidation and enrichment of CARICOM and Japan relations.
I thank you. |
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