Prime Minister of Guyana, the Honourable Samuel Hinds,
Honourable Minister with responsibility for Transportation and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn
Director, Civil Aviation, Barbados and Outgoing Acting Chairman of the Regional Aviation Safety Oversight System, Mr Anthony Archer
Other Directors of Civil Aviation
Representatives of Regional and International Organisations
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Deputy Secretary-General and staff of the CARICOM Secretariat
Distinguished Guests
Representatives of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is indeed a pleasure and an honour for me as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to welcome you to the launching of the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS).

Today’s launch marks a significant milestone in the ongoing process of development of civil aviation in the Caribbean Community. CASSOS replaces the Regional Aviation Safety Oversight System (RASOS), which functioned as an informal arrangement among the CARICOM States for aviation safety oversight. This new institution provides the platform for establishing a Regional Civil Aviation Authority, one of the aims in the evolution of civil aviation in our Region.

The importance of transportation and in particular air transportation to this Community cannot be overstated. First of all, let us not forget that the true meaning of community is a co-mingling of peoples. Thus, separated as our countries are by the sea, the building and maintenance of our Community is to a large extent dependent on our ability to efficiently move our people and our goods among the Member States and Associate Members. Both the original and Revised Treaties of Chaguaramas show a measure of recognition of this fact by specifically listing transportation as one of the key areas for functional co-operation. In addition to the broad umbrella of transportation under which aviation falls, Security an allied area was added recently as a pillar of the Community.

Quite apart from the Treaty, Member States of CARICOM have specific obligations as contracting States to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), and are subject to the mandatory International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) and the ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP).

It is within the context of the original and Revised Treaties of Chaguaramas that Member States have collaborated in the discharge of their safety and security oversight obligations under the Chicago Convention. That collaboration was undertaken previously within regular meetings of Directors of Civil Aviation held under the auspices of the CARICOM Secretariat.

The entity which we are gathered here to launch today had its genesis in the Council for Trade and Economic Development’s (COTED) mandate for a more formal structure for collaboration in the sector.

In February 1998 in Barbados, at its Third Meeting, COTED adopted a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the finalization of which led to the creation of the Association of Civil Aviation Authorities of the Caribbean (ACAAC) and the establishment of the Regional Aviation Safety Oversight System (RASOS).

In May 2004, as Secretary-General, I received notification of the Government of Grenada’s support for an initiative by the Board of RASOS to have the Conference of Heads of Government designate RASOS as an Institution of the Community pursuant to Article 21 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. The view was expressed that such a designation would enhance the recognition of RASOS within the international aviation and donor communities.

Since the establishment of RASOS, issues had been raised about the need to review the provisions of the MOU and the Rules and Procedures that govern its operation. This was called for with a view to clarifying the legal status of RASOS and providing for an expanded scope of functions to include all matters relating to the Annexes of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

The Community Council of Ministers considered the matter of designation at its Fourteenth Meeting held in June 2004 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and mandated the CARICOM Secretariat to work with RASOS to develop an institutional and organizational format which would facilitate consideration of its designation as an institution of the Community.

Pursuant to the mandate of the Community Council, the Secretariat has worked diligently with the Board of RASOS, ICAO, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States and the relevant Organs of the Community. The result of these efforts was the finalization, signature and entry into force in July 2008 of the Agreement establishing CASSOS.

CASSOS has full juridical personality. Its primary objectives are to assist its States Parties in meeting their obligations as contracting States to the Chicago Convention by achieving and maintaining full compliance with the ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices. It will facilitate and promote the development and harmonization of civil aviation regulations, standards, practices and procedures amongst its States Parties consistent with the Annexes to the Chicago Convention.

This entity will be the regional institution to provide, on request, technical guidance to participating states on all matters within its competence relating to civil aviation. Its mandate also includes the mobilization of financial and other resources from the international aviation and donor community and government agencies to support its activities.

CASSOS, I’m advised, will have an impact on:

• the cost savings achieved by Member States through the pooling of the Region’s technical and other resources
• human resource development and compliance by Member States with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices.

This compliance will enhance safety and security, the competitiveness of regional carriers in international air transportation and consequently, the tourism sector.

The membership of CASSOS is open to CARICOM States, Associate Members and other States and territories in the Caribbean and I am pleased to note that the United Kingdom authorities have indicated an interest in its Caribbean territories participating in CASSOS.

The Agreement establishing CASSOS provides for the Board of CASSOS to report annually to COTED which may provide general or specific directions. This nexus between CASSOS and COTED provides, for the first time, a formal mechanism whereby Directors of Civil Aviation would be able to benefit from Ministerial policy guidance and the Organ of the Community will be kept informed of significant developments in international civil aviation.

I am pleased to announce that the First Ordinary Meeting of CASSOS will be convened by the Secretariat later today at which time the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson will be elected.

Before I close, I wish to express my appreciation to the officers of RASOS for their excellent stewardship over the past ten years and to wish the office bearers of CASSOS much success in their endeavours.

I thank you.