Secretary General,
Delegates
Invitees

I am honoured to be with you at this the 23rd Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development. I am also pleased that we have been able to convene this session despite the many competing demands for Ministerial time. This week, in Saint Lucia we have been and continue to be engaged in three important Trade Related activities, a regional Conference for Parliamentarians with responsibility for International Trade (hosted by the OAS), the WTO Trade Policy Review of the OECS (Saint Lucia Review), and this meeting of the COTED. Our firm commitment and adherence to our Treaty obligations provided the motivation and inspiration for averting yet another postponement of the 23rd meeting of council. I congratulate you for being here.

I am advised that we will be considering a wide range of issues spanning the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market, Trade in Goods, Standards, and External Trade Relations. These are vital tenants of our Community arrangements and we should be unflinching in our determination and resolve to their full and successful implementation.

It is no secret that the implementation of the Single Market has posed challenges, indeed serious challenges, to some of us. I take the opportunity therefore to encourage those among us who have not been able to adhere to agreed to schedules to expedite their national processes with a view to providing the impetus for a fully integrated and functioning Single Market.

That being said however, I must express my deep concern in respect of the wide variations in trade imbalances within the community, but in particular with the less fortunate among us who are indeed important and captive markets for the more endowed among us. While negative trade balances will be inevitable in some cases, it is not sustainable. And so colleagues, if we are all expected to remain faithful to the ideals of our Treaty, then we MUST find appropriate mechanisms which allow for more equitable enjoyment of any accrued benefits by the full community.

I have no doubt we will be exploring, in depth, many of those issues during our deliberations today. In my brief encounters with you so far, I have come to appreciate your frank and candid positions on matters which affect your respective countries. I expect you will not be different today.

Saint Lucia is truly home to the Community. Most of you, if not all, have visited us before. You must by now be accustomed to the warmth, friendliness and hospitality of our people. But since you are in Simply Beautiful Saint Lucia, please devote some time to enjoy the pleasantries; in a few hours it will be Friday evening at Rodney Bay.

Welcome HOME!

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org