President lauds Caricom’s contributions – as organisation honours long serving staffers as part of its 40th anniversary

Georgetown, GINA, December 7, 2013

 

The efforts of Caricom and the resultant benefits to the Caribbean and its people were acknowledged by President Donald Ramotar when he delivered brief remarks at a simple ceremony on November 6 at the Princess International Hotel, to mark its 40th year of service to the region.

President Donald Ramotar and Caricom’s Secretary General Irwin LaRocque toast to the organisation’s 40th anniversary

The president said that he recognised the organisation’s work in making the dream of closer and stronger ties, among member states, a reality. This was a dream shared, both, by regional leaders, past and present, he added.

 

“In this globalised world, the need for us to have stronger and closer relations is very important. We have the conditions to help move us closer together, we have a common history, and I detect too, that among the ordinary people of the region, they desire that we come closer together as one Caribbean people”.

President Donald Ramotar delivering brief remarks in the presence of Caricom’s Secretary General Irwin LaRocque

 

Caricom’s Secretary General (SG) Irwin LaRocque, addressing invitees who included many former staffers, said the organisation had a lot to celebrate. He listed some of the achievements which included the formation of the Caricom Single Market Economy (CSME), collaboration in the fields of agriculture, security, environmental education and an increasingly stronger international presence. “It is clear we have a lot to celebrate and we are also certain that there is a lot more to be achieved. At this junction in our journey, we are seeking to position ourselves as a community, to be better able to deliver a few more tangible benefits to our people in the next 40 years and beyond.”

President Donald Ramotar presents a token to a long-serving employee of Caricom

Caricom staffers, whom the SG described as having served with commitment and unflinching dedication for 20 years or more, were honoured with various tokens and awards for their long service to the organisation and the region.

 

In 1972, Commonwealth Caribbean leaders at the Seventh Heads of Government Conference decided to transform the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) into a Common Market and establish the Caribbean Community.