(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), His Excellency Edwin Carrington has charged Regional institutions to have a frank exchange of views on the broad vision for the Community’s development.

Delivering remarks on 25 October 2007 at the formal opening of the inaugural meeting between the Secretary-General and Heads of Caribbean Community Institutions at the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters, Georgetown, Secretary-General Carrington said the meeting was historic and timely since the Community was in need of deeper cooperation and greater collaboration.

More than 20 CARICOM Institutions have gathered at the Secretariat for the meeting aimed at a comprehensive review of regional institutions to better provide common services and coordination of policies and programmes within the Community.

It is in response to a mandate from the Twenty-Eighth Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government in Barbados in July 2007. The Declaration of Needham’s Point titled `A Community for All’ was issued at that meeting which outlined the Community’s new thrust and a central role for Functional Cooperation.

It is a realization also of the plans of the Secretary-General as Chief Executive Officer of the Community to strengthen the relationship between the CARICOM Secretariat and the various Community Institutions to enhance existing collaboration and cooperation.

Contact: piu@caricom.org