Press release 172/2005
(13 October 2005 )

Deputy Secretary General
Members of the CARICOM Staff
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

Today I am extremely honoured to welcome His Excellency Charles Maynard, and to receive his Credentials accrediting him as Dominica’s Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Your Excellency, I welcome you on this occasion to the new Headquarters of the Caribbean Community.

I must say that, for me, it is truly a great honour and it gives me immense pleasure to receive you in particular as Dominica’s first Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Ladies and gentlemen, Ambassador Maynard’s career has spanned many years of service in the Public and Private Sectors, local, regional and international organisations as well as in the NGO Community.

His distinguished service includes 15 years in the Administration of the Late Dame Eugenia Charles where he served as Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism; Minister of Agriculture Trade Industry and Tourism and Minister of Education, Health, Youth Affairs Sports and Culture, remaining in each Ministry for five full years.

And clearly, Ambassador Maynard is no stranger to CARICOM, as during his political career, he was also the Minister responsible for CARICOM Affairs.

And if this political work was not challenging enough Ambassador Maynard, found the time to be one of the seven ACP Ministers who negotiated the IVth Lomé Convention with the European Union.

He also served as Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO); as Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the World Health Organisation (WHO); Chairman of the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD); as President of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) and Deputy Head of the CARICOM Observer Mission to Haiti.

This great friend of mine has intimate knowledge of the Community as he has been a part of the process from its inception. I recall in the earliest stages when the issue of the categorisation of the LDCs and the MDCs, were being contemplated, as a member of CAIC at the time, Charles Maynard traveled around the Caribbean lobbying for CARIFTA and especially for the LDCs.

He has always believed in this great cause of ours and he is a well respected friend of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Excellency, your long and distinguished career in the public and private sectors, as well as your wide and varied experience in regional and international matters will no doubt further enrich the deliberations of our Community, as we prepare our Member States to meet the challenges of the new global economy.

There is no doubt, that we are certain to embark upon close collaboration in a number of areas, particularly those in which you are specialised - I say this because they are numerous – and I have no doubt, that as a Community we shall certainly benefit from the breadth and wisdom of your experience.

And Excellency, our long years of personal friendship will certainly help to sustain me when as it often does, the times get rough.

Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the Media, with his wealth of experience Ambassador Maynard is poised to make a significant contribution, one which cannot be overstated and will surely not go unnoticed.

It is clear why Dominica has taken its precious time in assigning him. I too would want to keep such an individual very close at hand.

In the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, Dominica’s Prime Minister the Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit has responsibility for the important and delicate portfolio of the Free Movement of Community Nationals under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). And here, His Excellency is well placed to offer the Community measured guidance as one who has had the benefit of serving the Region in related portfolios.

Dominica has a way of always offering its best, and the choice of Ambassador Maynard is a vindication of that truth. In fact we recognise him as a man for all seasons.

In closing, Your Excellency, your accreditation here as the first Plenipotentiary Representative of Dominica to the Caribbean Community, is one that is greatly welcomed as it is certain to continue to enhance and deepen the great relationship which already exists.

Congratulations Your Excellency, and once again I am honoured to welcome your return to the CARICOM family.