Thank you, Secretary General Larocque, for your kind words. It is a great honour, and a great pleasure as well, to be visiting the region again.
I will keep my remarks brief. Let me simply point out that Singapore has always and continues to value our relationship with the countries of the Caribbean. Our relations with the region date back to 1971, when Singapore and Trinidad & Tobago first established diplomatic relations.
Like many of the CARICOM's member states, we are a small country. And like many of your member states as well, we are a small island state.
We have a common interest in working together to ensure that the systems of global governance continue to hear and take note of our voices.
We have successfully and productively worked together to further our common concerns at international fora such as the United Nations and the Forum of Small States.
My appointment as Singapore's Plenipotentially Representative to the Caribbean Community is meant to be a signal that Singapore does not take the support of our Caribbean friends for granted. We will continue to work to sustain and deepen our engagement of the region, including finding new avenues for cooperation and collaboration.
I look forward to working with the CARICOM Secretariat, as well as its individual member states, towards enhancing relations between the CARICOM and Singapore.
Thank you.
