His Excellency Sir Clifford Husbands, Governor-General of Barbados and Lady Husbands;
The Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
His Excellency the President of Suriname;
Distinguished Prime Ministers
Honourable Ministers;
Honourable Members of the Judiciary and the Bar;
Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps;
Chief Negotiator of the Regional Negotiating Machinery;
Distinguished Recipients of the Order of the Caribbean Community;
Distinguished Delegates and Invited Guests;
Friends of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Evening

I bid you welcome to this, the Opening Ceremony of the Twelfth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community. It is an honour so to do and a privilege to have been so charged and to have been afforded the opportunity to make these Welcoming Remarks.

Ladies and Gentlemen, that we are meeting once again in Barbados attests to the unshakeable commitment of the Government and People of Barbados to the ideals and objectives of Caribbean regional integration. That we are doing so once again under your astute and dynamic chairmanship, Mr. Prime Minister, virtually guarantees our success. We thank you for the fraternal welcome and warm hospitality extended to us by your Government and the people of Barbados.

Mr. Chairman, while your contribution to the Conference of Heads of Government since you entered that body in 1994, is already outstanding, that of the Hon. Pierre Charles, Prime Minister of Dominica and the Hon. Arnhim Eustace, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines - both attending their first meeting of the Conference - is eagerly anticipated. Honourable Prime Ministers, I extend to you a warm welcome and look forward to your own unique contributions.

Equally warm are the congratulations I extend to the Honourable Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago on the recent renewal of his mandate. Your experience and drive, Honourable Prime Minister, will continue to serve our Community well. Finally, I consider it as great a pleasure to welcome back to the Councils of the Community, His Excellency the President of Suriname, following his victory at the polls last May.

It is said that "No man was ever honoured for what he received. Honour has been the reward for what he gave." This holds true, I am sure, for women as well! Today, we give substance to this adage as we recognise the contribution of three outstanding Caribbean citizens - the Rt. Hon. George Price of Belize; Sir George Alleyne of Barbados and Dr. Slinger Francisco, the legendary Mighty Sparrow of Trinidad and Tobago - by way of Grenada, I believe - by conferring on them the Community's highest honour, the Order of the Caribbean Community for they truly gave to the Caribbean Community. I congratulate them in the name of the entire Caribbean Community.

Mr. Chairman, the task before us, made the more difficult by the many global threats which all but besiege our Region at this time, confirms the wisdom of Heads of Government gathering, at least twice a year, in construction of a Caribbean Community capable of defending the interests of the people of the Caribbean and is one which is worthy of their highest aspirations. Today, thanks to the collaborative efforts of many, including from among our judicial and legal fraternities, we advance one stage further in building such a Community as we sign the Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice.

In doing so, I recognise that though in no way opposed to the establishment of the Court, some would have preferred a further delay in the signing of this historic Instrument in order to ensure that all concerns have been fully addressed. But the Caribbean reality today - the many threats which currently beset our Region, the fast receding of the opportunities available to us - literally mandate that we grasp now this opportunity and take this critical step towards the establishment and operation of a Caribbean Court of Justice. I acknowledge and thank those members of the Preparatory Committee and those special guests from the judicial, legal and business communities who have joined us here today in recognition of this brave and historic step by the people of the Caribbean. I look forward to all others coming on board soon, and in the words of one captain of industry, "wondering why we didn't create this a long time ago".

It is a truly historic step, after more than a generation of political independence, which will make more real our sovereignty and will bring a higher quality of justice within reach of every citizen of our Community. This process also reinforces the foundation of the Single Market and Economy, and is in consonance with the progress now being made by the host country, Guyana, towards providing the Headquarters of the Secretariat - a home for the Community.

Mr. Chairman, your agenda today also contains other highly significant issues facing the Community. Your discussions regarding a 2001 Tourism Summit of the Caribbean Community, dealing as it would with the Region's largest industry, will have important implications for the sustenance and development of our Community. So also would the preparations for participation by Heads of Government in the Third Summit of the Americas in Quebec City in April.

In all your endeavours, perhaps the most critical factor is the effective involvement of the people of the Community. For that reason, the highest priority is being attached to the preparations for the Forward Together Conference later this year. This Conference will bring together Governments, private sector, labour, NGOs and other stakeholders to help chart the future course of our Community.

Also, it is of great significance that at this Meeting, the Heads of Government will be exchanging views with the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, the international institution with perhaps the greatest potential to influence the future course - for good or evil - of development of our Community.

Mr. Chairman, all these reasons underline the historic significance of this Twelfth Inter-Sessional Meeting, which takes place at this most critical time in our history and under your chairmanship.

It also takes place not only at the beginning of the new millennium, but fortuitously on a date when I can venture to wish you, Mr. Chairman and all the people of the Caribbean Community: "A Very Happy Valentine".