Press release 08/2005
(7 January 2005)

Honorable Ministers, Distinguished Deputy Secretary-General, Director General of the CRNM, Delegates, Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat, Representatives of regional bodies and private sector organizations, Friends of the media, Ladies and Gentlemen

At the beginning of this New Year I like to wish you all a prosperous and fruitful 2005. I hope that this year will bring our Caribbean Community great achievements.

Last year our Region was hit by a few hurricanes that caused lots of suffering. We have also seen tragedy unfold in Asia where a tsunami took more then 150,000 lives. Our prayers are with all those who have suffered and have lost loved ones.

A few days ago I heard the sad news that the highly respected and well-known Jamaican/Caribbean intellectual Mr Ken Rattray Q.C had passed away. I extend my sincere condolences to his family and the people of Jamaica. I would like to invite you to join me in observing a moment of silence for all those that have left us.

I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the government and people of Guyana for once again hosting the COTED.

The pressures emanating from the process of globalization is leaving our Region no other choice but to integrate in the shortest possible timeframe. By widening and deepening the integration process we are creating a larger market, economics of scale and many opportunities for our peoples.

We are at the start of a critical year for the process of Regional Integration. The Single Market is to be completed this year. I call upon the Member States to expeditiously implement the necessary elements to complete the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market.

The process of regularizing the Single Market arrangements should be a priority for us all. It is therefore very important for this session of COTED to take urgent action to complete the Region's "build - in - agenda". Issues such as Contingent Rights, Government Procurement, E- commerce, Free Zones, and Intellectual Property Rights should be finalized in order to have the Single Market in place.

In addition COTED should also focus on the Issues of sustainable development, trade in goods and services, and other sectors which are vital to our existence. In looking at our own Regional trade regime we should agree to use the best positive instruments to regularize our trading regime.

We are all small vulnerable economies producing commodities for which Market conditions are deteriorating. It is of utmost importance that we ensure Market Access for all those products. I'm talking about sugar, bananas, rice and rum products. We very much realize that many people are employed in the agricultural sector and that we should protect those jobs.

I have kept my remarks short because we have a very lengthy agenda to deal with. So, in concluding I wish you every good wish for a productive session of COTED and with delight will assume the chairmanship.

Thank you.