Press release 34/2003
(15 February 2003)

Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community
Honourable Ministers
Distinguished Secretary-General
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Distinguished Guests
Artistes
Ladies and Gentlemen

As Chairman of the Caribbean Community, it is my most pleasant task to welcome you all this evening to this very special occasion, the Launch of the CARICOM 30^th Anniversary Programme.

This opportunity to welcome you, makes up in some small way for my great disappointment in not being able to make this statement in Roseau where my fellow Dominicans would only have been too happy to embrace their relatives in the Caribbean Family. But circumstances alter cases and thankfully in this case, wherever in the Caribbean such an event as this is staged, it will be considered as being held at home.

Tonight’s theme “30 to Destiny” fits particularly well within the overall theme for the celebrations, “Integration - our Key to Prosperity”. For, this past 30 year-period has seen us move inexorably towards our destiny of integration and increased the possibilities therein for our prosperity.

In that 30 years, a generation in time, our Community has persevered to the extent that we have a lot to celebrate over the next year and more to look forward to over the next 30. The torch that will be lit at the Opening Ceremony tomorrow morning will be much more than the symbol of unity over the next five months. It will also represent the passing of the responsibility from one generation to another. Now is as good a moment as any to urge the active participation of the Youth in the various processes that are geared towards achieving our stated goals.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the founders of our integration arrangements today have in large measure passed on and in my time I have seen the deepening of the integration movement. Earlier today we discussed in a widely representative forum, a way to go even further. There is little doubt that the new horizon will be one that the youth of our Community will lead us over.

The time has come therefore to pass on the torch of responsibility to the now generation. It is to the youth we must give the opportunity to move integration, steps, or even leaps, further than we have. To the young people I say tonight you must seize that opportunity to fashion what lies beyond that new horizon. But to do so you must accept the responsibility that comes with that opportunity.

No one of my generation or the one before, should deny you, your opportunity to move the integration movement in the direction that you the young people wish it to go. We are willing to give you the benefit of all our collective experience but it is not a cliché to state that the future of this Region is in your hands.

In celebrating this significant landmark in Community History, I feel confident that the challenge of ensuring that the next generation of Community life brings us ever closer to that ideal of viability, sustainability and prosperity, is secure in the hands of our youth.

That gives me one more reason to fully enjoy the celebration of the Caribbean Community’s 30^th birthday I thank you.