It is my pleasure to chair this opening session of the Eleventh Meeting of  the COHSOD which focuses on education and training . I am pleased that so many Ministers, officials and representatives of collaborating agencies and development partners are with us today as we try to resolve some critical issues that underscore the intricate linkages between social and economic policies, especially in the context of the CSME process and the role that education plays in the development of human resources required for a CSME that is competitive in the global arena.

It was at the Fifth Meeting of COHSOD here in Georgetown in October 2000 that the structure and functioning of the Directorate of Human and Social Development (HSD) and more specifically this Council were defined in line with the mandate of Heads of Government and the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramus which determined the changes from the previously-run Standing Conferences of the respective sectors to an intersectoral COHSOD.

It was at COHSOD V that the integrating theme was approved. The theme, Investing with Human Resources and Striving for Equity in Social Development has served as the catalyst for greater intersectoral linkages among the programmes, which range from education, health and labour; to crime and security, youth and sport; and to gender and culture. ( I wish to identify the presence of the Hon Mario Michel, Minister of Education and Culture, St. Lucia who as Chair of COHSOD at that time spearheaded this process).  Hence,  today, while the agenda focuses on education and training, the issues and the discussions involve the other social sector activities, in particular the links with health, labour, youth, gender and culture.

Since the redefinition of our scope of activities in line with this intersectoral approach, the Directorate has increasingly streamlined its work programme toward a smaller, leaner and a more focused set of strategic outputs. The methods of our working arrangements have been further refined during the current year since COHSOD IX in October 2004,  and have no doubt accounted for the significant achievements over the past year.

Among these achievements include:

A strategic plan for youth development

The collaboration among the youth, health, education and labour programmes to define a strategy or plan of action for youth to improve employment possibilities, health and family life, youth leadership in the accelerated approach to HIV/AIDS and increased participation in the decision making structures of the Community. I acknowledge the presence of the Dean of the Caribbean Youth Ambassadors Progeamme, Mr. Michael Alexander, Youth Ambassador from Trinidad and Tobago who led a committed team of executives of the CYA in defining this strategy.

Accreditation and Standardisation: critical in the CSME process

During this year too, significant advances have been made in the accreditation process and in the classifications and standardization of job related skills, both essential preconditions in the free movement of labour in the CSME. The Caribbean Accreditation Authority of Medical and other Health Professionals was inaugurated in July 2004, a critical step which averted the possibility that any delays in its establishment could have resulted in the reduced international recognition of medical practitioners and other professionals. Therefore this expedient action needs to be applauded. It is due to the tireless efforts of the Interim Committee, Chaired by CARICOM, and including representatives from the Universities of the West Indies, Guyana, St. Georges and Suriname. I wish to recognize the Director of this Authority Ms Lorna Parkins who is with us today,  and the role of the Government of Jamaica in hosting the Authority. This is a precursor to the Regional Accreditation Authority which is long overdue.

Restructuring CARIFESTA

Following CARIFESTA VII in Suriname in August 2003, and the recommendations initiated by Hon Walter Sandriman, Suriname's Minister of Education, Community Affairs and Culture then Chair of COHSOD, the CARICOM Secretariat coordinated a Task Force chaired by Mr. Alwyn Bully, Cultural Officer UNESCO.  That Task Force produced a Report with recommendations on the reorganization and professionalisation of the Festival, including the establishment of a festival committee, a board and an artistic director, committed to producing a biannual and internationally prestigious event that also pays attention to the retention of the indigenous cultural forms. The first Festival under the new system is scheduled to take place in August 2006,  and based on a process agreed to by the Heads of Government in July 2004, following the recommendations of the Special COHSOD of Ministers of Culture in May this year, we hope to announce the sites of CARIFESTA for 2006 and 2008.

The Directorate is pleased to announce two new appointments which have been made to bolster the Cultural Programme: Dr. Hilary Brown, Programme Manager,  from Jamaica,  and Ms Riane Dehass,  Deputy Programme Manager, from Suriname.

Scaling up the fight against HIV/AIDS through PANCAP

The Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS held its fourth Annual General Meeting last week in Barbados. Approximately 150 delegates representing governments, business, NGOs, development partners and others up from 35 that attended the inaugural meeting in St. Lucia in 2001 and 93 at the third Annual General Meeting in Georgetown last year. In addition, the Partnership, coordinated by CARICOM and falling under the Human and Social Development umbrella, has been able to mobilize resources for the implementation for the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework from a variety of sources including the Global Fund, the World Bank, GTZ, UNICEF, KFW CIDA, USAID and DFID. Most important is the fact that UNAIDS has identified PANCAP as an international best practice in a publication to be launched at a UNAIDS Board Meeting in Jamaica in mid December 2004.

In collaboration with the UK Government and sponsored by DFID, CARICOM, under the Chairmanship of Dr. the Hon Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis,  will host an important high level meeting "Champions for Change in the Reduction of Stigma Against People Living with HIV/AIDS". This meeting will bring together Government leaders including Heads of Governments, representatives of opposition parties, the leaders in business, labour, the churches, NGOs and cultural icons in an effort to join the struggle for changing attitudes, a fundamental principle in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

In this regard a project on HIV/AIDS and education jointly being done between CARICOM/PANCAP and UNESCO is worth mentioning here.

Crime and Security

In the area of Crime and Security, the CARICOM Task Force on Crime and Security located in Trinidad and Tobago that falls under this Directorate, continues to play a vital role in identifying and implementing a regional strategy. The signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding  with the British Government on regional crime and security priorities is a significant step, which has received the fullest attention of Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who is responsible for this portfolio in the Quasi-Cabinet of Heads of Government.

Playing a role in the world of cricket

In this period,  also, the CARICOM Secretariat,  through HSD,  is represented on the Board of World Cup Cricket, 2007. In this regard also CARICOM through COHSOD and HSD continues to play an important role in defining the Health and Disaster Management Plan, The Security Plan, and our Legal Division and the Legal Advisory Council is involved in the development of the necessary sunset legislation. In this context, I am happy to report that the Sports Desk, vacant for over 10 years has recently been filled with the appointment of a Deputy Programme Manager, Mr. John Campbell, a Jamaican, who specializes in Sports Medicine.

HSD's role in the 30th Anniversary celebrations

In the programme celebrating the 30th Anniversary of CARICOM, the Directorate played a critical role in the very successful School Quiz, the Torch of Unity Run, the School's Art Competitions, all of which contributed to the sense of Community. We wish in particular to acknowledge the role played by Dr. Morella Joseph, Deputy Programme Manager for Human Resource Development (HSD), in the successful delivery of these programmes.

In this year also,  the Director continues to participate actively in the Caribbean Commission on Health and Development, chaired by Sir George Alleyne, has convened the first meeting of the Region's Consumer groups, has been involved in public outreach across the Region on the CSME.

These few examples help to illustrate the nature and scope of activities undertaken and the impact of the Directorate of Human and Social Development (HSD) on the social policy agenda of the Region during the current year.

Being more proactive in international Forums

As we plan our programme for 2005-2006, the Directorate is rethinking the relevance of the current integrating theme,  but more importantly is structuring its activities around the implementation of critical mandates that are related to the World Social Summit for Development (WSSD), the Summit of the Americas Process, the SIDS Agenda and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).  In this interrelated world, these global processes define the sphere of action and there is no denying about this. What is required is for CARICOM and this Council to take a proactive stance,  and to intervene in the process, advocate for mutually beneficial policies in the interest of the Caribbean; on migration, on intellectual property rights, on cultural industries and many others. Our voices must be heard in these international forums not as fragments but as a cohesive collective.

Social Protection Framework

In this regard the Directorate,  in collaboration with the CDB and other agenices,  has identified the need to define a Social Protection Framework that prescribes the options for reducing poverty, improving the lot of the vulnerable groups, taking into account gender inequalities, and increasing the participation of stakeholders in policy formulation. Social Protection is emerging as a most cost effective mechanism for implementing the MDGs.  In this process education and training are pivotal.

Institutionalising the Council on Civil Society

In the coming year, also, the Directorate is gearing up to coordinate the process of national consultations leading up to the Forward Together II Dialogue between Civil Society and Heads of Government at the 26th Conference of the Community in July 2005. You would recall that the inaugural Forward Together Civil Society meeting was held here in Guyana in July 2002,  resulting in the Lilliendaal Declaration. Among the major items on the agenda would be the role of people's programmes (such as those of HSD) in the CSME. The Social Protection framework will be high on the agenda for discussion.

There is so much to be done and so little time. As we work through a packed agenda over the next 2 days I am sure we are all resolved to find a way to truly implement the programmes under discussion,  with a view to really fulfilling the mission that we as a Council defined for ourselves four years ago,  and which we seek to perfect,  realizing that the CSME depends on those programmes centred on Investing in Human Resources and Striving for Equity in Human Development.