Distinguished Heads of State and Government
Other Distinguished Participants
Representatives of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

A very, very warm welcome to you all

The great honour and privilege has fallen to me as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to call this historic CONFERENCE ON THE CARIBBEAN: A 20/20 VISION to order. It is also my honour and privilege to chair the Opening Session of this landmark event.

It is truly an historic occasion as on this 19th day of June in the year of our Lord 2007, the governments, the experts, the private sectors and the peoples of the USA and of the Caribbean Community, embark on what is an unprecedented dialogue to enhance and strengthen the relationship between CARICOM and the USA in order to create a secure, stable and prosperous partnership for the benefit of all their citizens.

In so doing the Conference will be expected among other things, to facilitate:

• in the context of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, a mutual understanding of the priority areas for Caribbean growth and development with particular emphasis on human resource development, investment and competitiveness;
• a joint commitment to the strengthening of security - including environmental security - for all;
• the strengthening of the relationship among the Caribbean Diaspora in the United States as well as the energizing of the Diaspora in support of the Region’s Development.

This milestone event is taking place one year after the President of this Nation proclaimed June as Caribbean American Heritage Month and celebrated “the great contributions of Caribbean Americans” to the fabric of the American nation. Indeed the contribution of the Caribbean Diaspora to the American Nation has been made from America’s earliest days with the small island of Nevis providing the first Treasury Secretary. Since then, up to this day, the list of outstanding Caribbean Americans is countless - and growing. The mutual nature of this historically, deep rooted relationship is exemplified by today’s position of America as the CARICOM region’s major trading partner, greatest source of foreign investment and home to the largest Caribbean Diaspora. This week’s activities are therefore expected to build on this true partnership which is anchored in an historical and strong human foundation.

It is against that background that one of the Caribbean region’s outstanding elder statesmen, the former Prime Minister of Jamaica the Most Honourable P.J. Patterson, while delivering one of the Commemorative Lectures in New York, marking the 30th Anniversary of CARICOM in 2003, called on the Diaspora to share the vision of an evolving Caribbean and to embrace the wider CARICOM as their ancestral homeland - a place where they could find or initiate synergies for cultural and productive action with profitable returns to all.

To this end, there can be no better call to arms in regard to the activities of the next three days than to invite the Chairman of the Caribbean Community, Dr the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines to bring welcome greetings at this Opening Ceremony. He will be followed by three of our close collaborators in the organisation of this Conference, the President of the IDB, His Excellency Luis Moreno, the Secretary-General of the OAS, His Excellency Jose Miguel Insulza and the Managing Director of the World Bank, Mr Graeme Wheeler, our host this morning.

Following the welcome remarks there will be two keynote speakers, the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Rt Honourable Owen Arthur and the United States Secretary of Commerce the Hon Carlos Guttierez.

I now invite the Chairman of CARICOM to address us.

(Following the completion of the presentation by the keynote speakers and with the closing of the Opening Ceremony the Secretary-General will draw the attention of all to the activities of the day.)

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org