PORT-au-PRINCE,
Haiti
--- Haiti’s membership in the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) and its anticipated participation in the Single Market,
present opportunities for improving the lives of the Haitian people through
co-operation in areas such as health, education and the economic benefits that
can be derived from commerce and trade, CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador
Irwin
Larocque
said Monday.
Ambassador
Larocque
also took time out to “single-out” Bahamian Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Perry
G. Christie whom he said “returns to this Forum.”
Prime Minister Christie is
accompanied by Minister of National Security, Dr. the Hon. Bernard J. Nottage,
who also serves as Chair of the Council for Ministers of National Security and
Law Enforcement (CONSLE); Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Fred Mitchell;
Minister of Financial Services and Trade, the Hon. Ryan Pinder; His Excellency
Picewell Forbes, High Commissioner to CARICOM and senior government officials.
Addressing the Opening Session of
the 24th Inter-Sessional Meetings of the Conference of Heads of
Government of the Caribbean Community being held in Port-au-Prince, Ambassador
L
arocque
said “some of these benefits have already begun to be realized.”
“For example, the work of the Pan Caribbean
Partnership against HIV and AIDS (has led to many successes in the country) and
soon with collaboration among the universities of the Region, as well as the
one way duty free access to the other Member States of CARICOM for some of your
products, (will produce great benefits for the country),” Ambassador L
arocque
said.
Haiti is hosting a Meeting of the
Heads of Government of CARICOM for the first time. Ambassador L
arocque
said
that particular fact is “no greater indicator, symbolic and substantive, that
Haiti has taken its rightful place within the Caribbean Community.”
“This is certainly one occasion
that the use of the word historic is most fitting,” Ambassador L
arocque
said.
“Ten and a half years after its formal accession as a Member State of CARICOM,
for the first time a President of Haiti is Chairman of CARICOM. Also for the
first time, Haiti is hosting a Meeting of the Heads of Government. There can be
no greater indicator, symbolic and substantive, that Haiti has taken its
rightful place within the Caribbean Community. I am certain that this is a
unanimous sentiment.”
His Excellency L
arocque
said
the fact that the country “has been able to rise above its monumental
challenges of the recent past” and take over leadership of our Caribbean
Community is testimony to the strength and resilience of its people.
“These are attributes which have
earned you, the Haitian people, the admiration of all the Caribbean and should
serve as an inspiration to your brothers and sisters in the Region as we all
confront the tough social and economic challenges of this time,” Ambassador L
arocque
added.
Secretary-General L
arocque
said
there is an added significance to Haiti’s assumption of the leadership of the
Caribbean Community.
“This year we celebrate our 40th
Anniversary and what better way to begin that commemoration than having our
most recent Member leading the way. For, even as we look back with justifiable
pride in our achievements over the last 40 years, we must embrace the promise
of our future through accepting new ideas and seeking new perspectives. The
achievement of the past is no guarantee of success in the future.
“Therefore, so must we. As we go
forward to the next 40 years, in accepting that the imperative for integration
of our small states is undeniable, we also have to accept that we must change
our modes of operation if we are to deliver to our people the standard of
living they desire,” His Excellency L
arocque
added.
Photo: Ambassador Larocque Credit: Government of Haiti
