Welcome!

Foreign Minister of the Republic of Guyana, Hon. Rudy Insanally
Members of Executive Management
Other Colleagues of the Secretariat
Ladies and Gentlemen

I bid you a pleasant welcome and a special good evening.

It is with pride and pleasure that I join in paying tribute to our colleagues, staff members of the CARICOM Secretariat for their many years of outstanding service and dedication to the Caribbean Community in general, and to this Organisation, in particular.

Over the years, by and large, the staff of the Secretariat has performed with diligence and continuity to ensure that the ideals of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, establishing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are realised.

It is an honour for me therefore as Secretary-General to have on board, a team of highly skilled regional professionals, who willingly confront the diverse challenges the Region face in the course of their duties, and handle competently issues many of which would have deemed to be impossible ...sometimes, with very little notice.

Honourable Minister, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am cognizant of the fact that many are the occasions when you have had to go the proverbial extra mile. I am also aware that there are times when the work of the Secretariat has impinged upon your social lives - maybe it's for the good - who knows. Nonetheless, your continued commitment to ensure the matters of the Community are satisfactorily pursued and the relevant result achieved is admirable. It is only by selfless and devoted commitment that as a people, we will stand any chance of building a viable Caribbean Community.

Your dedicated service over the years, represents indeed the foundation of the future we are striving to achieve for the citizens of the Community.

In this regard, I am proud to be associated with the staff of the CARICOM Secretariat and am committed to doing my part in this noble enterprise on which we have embarked. It is for that reason, that I have accepted the invitation of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community to continue to serve as Secretary-General for another term. I look forward to your unstinting support.

On behalf of the Community, and on my own behalf, I wish to convey my sincerest appreciation, and congratulations to each and every one of you for your unselfish contribution and continued commitment to the fulfillment of the ideals of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.

I Salute You!