Mr. Minister of Education, Walther Sandriman,
Assistant Secretary-General, Dr. Edward Greene,
Programme Coordinator of UNICEF, Mr. Marrashetty Seenappa
Distinguished Caricom Youth Ambassadors and other participants in this CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Workshop,
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honour for my country, and a privilege for me, to welcome you in Paramaribo to participate in this CARICOM Regional Youth Ambassadors Workshop.
The importance of youth participation in the process of regional integration has been stressed for many years since the launching of the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Program in 1993.
The goal of regional integration that was embedded in the Treaty of Chaguaramas and that has been updated in the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas can be brought to life and maintained in the future only by transferring our ideal from generation to generation.
Today it is clear that regional integration has become a precondition for the survival of the countries of our communities. The geo-political blocks that have emerged have no interest in dealing with isolated countries.
So, my young fellow promoters of the notion of CARICOM, be aware of the fact that the task you have taken on is as serious as the mission that lies on the shoulders of the leaders of CARICOM, of their governments, of civil society, the private business sector, the labor unions and other non-governmental organizations. We have to find the way to pull our resources together “to work for the greatest economic and social good of our countries and our Region, and for its recognition as a zone of peace and dignity within the global system.
This is what you have pledged when you took the oath to become a CARICOM Youth Ambassador .
It is crucial for the success of our countries and our community to keep this in our minds, notwithstanding the issues, the offers, the sometimes degrading pictures of our countries and Region that are being presented to us.
The issues of the workshop we are about to open are of great importance to our national and regional effort for sustainable development.
I hope that when you leave for your homes you will take with you an enlarged capacity to recognise the true nature of the processes that are influencing our chances towards success, the processes from within ourselves, as individuals, as groups in the basket of diversity, as nations and as a Region, and the processes that come to us from outside.
And with that, the enlarged capacity to take care of these processes, among which are the threats to biodiversity, to democracy and to our health by the raging scourge of HIV/AIDS.
In the meantime, do not forget that life has been given to us to be enjoyed.
While working on all these serious issues I have mentioned to you this afternoon do not forget to enjoy the richness of the culture and spirit of Suriname.
And now, I declare this CARICOM Regional Youth Ambassadors Workshop open.
