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# 154: CARICOM: 20th Meeting of the Conference




From: Max Blanchet <MaxBlanchet@worldnet.att.net>

CARICOM: 20th Meeting of the Conference 

COMMUNIQUE 

(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) --The Twentieth Meeting of the 
Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), 
was held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on 4-7 July 1999. 

COMMUNIQUE 

The Twentieth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the 
Caribbean Community (CARICOM), was held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and 
Tobago on 4-7 July 1999. 
  

Heads of Government in attendance were: Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, Prime 
Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas; Rt. Hon Owen Arthur; Prime 
Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development , Barbados; 
Hon Said Musa, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Foreign 
Affairs, Belize; Hon. Edison James, Prime Minister and Minister of Legal 
Affairs and Labour, the Commonwealth of Dominica; Dr. the Hon. Keith 
Mitchell, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Grenada; Rt. 
Hon. Percival J. Patterson, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, 
Jamaica; Hon. David Brandt, Chief Minister, Montserrat; Hon. Dr. Denzil 
Douglas, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Finance and 
Planning and National Security, St. Kitts and Nevis; Dr. the Hon. Kenny 
D. Anthony, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia; Rt. Hon. Sir James E. 
Mitchell, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines; His Excellency Dr. Jules A. Wijdenbosch, President of the 
Republic of Suriname; and Hon. Basdeo Panday, Prime Minister, Republic 
of Trinidad and Tobago. 

Antigua and Barbuda was represented by Dr. the Hon. Errol Cort, 
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. 
Hon. Clement J. Rohee, Minister of Foreign Affairs represented the 
Republic of  Guyana. 

The President of the Republic of Haiti, His Excellency Dr. Rene Preval 
was also in attendance. 

Anguilla was represented by the Chief Minister, Hon. Hubert Hughes; the 
British Virgin Islands was represented by the Chief Minister, Hon, Ralph 
T. O'Neal ; and the Turks and Caicos Islands was represented by the 
Chief Minister, Hon. Derek Taylor. 

Also in attendance was the Vice-President of the Dominican Republic, His 
Excellency Jaime David Mirabal. The Minister of Foreign Trade of the 
Republic of Cuba, His Excellency Richardo Cabrisas was in attendance for 
a specific agenda item with respect to the ACP negotiations with the 
European Union. 

Heads of Government also received in special audience His Excellency 
Hugo Chavez Frias, President of Venezuela; His Excellency Emeka Anyaoku, 
Secretary-General of the Commonwealth; and, Dr. Jacques Diouf, 
Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United 
Nations. 

Single Market and Economy 

The review of the Treaty and a series of other measures are being 
implemented to effect the introduction of the CARICOM Single Market and 
Economy by the end of 1999. 

Heads of Government were satisfied that a number of key measures had 
already been introduced by most Member States and by the undertaking of 
the remaining Member States that they would soon introduce them. These 
measures include the enactment of the legislation relating to the Free 
Movement of Skilled CARICOM Nationals, the Social Security Agreement, 
and the Double Taxation Agreement. In addition the consultative process 
and the facilitation of travel of CARICOM nationals were singled out for 
special attention. 

Heads of Government emphasised the importance of having the necessary 
institutional and administrative arrangements in place to give effect to 
the legal instruments which have been signed. It mandated the regional 
institutions to ensure that support is given to the national efforts to 
give effect, particularly, to decisions already taken for free movement 
of graduates, media workers, artistes, musicians, and for CARICOM 
nationals establishing businesses and providing services, as agreed 
under Protocol II. 

Particular attention was paid to ensuring that every effort is made to 
remove remaining unauthorised barriers to intra-regional trade; and to 
complete the fourth phase of the reduction of the Common External 
Tariff. 

Heads of Government noted with appreciation the information that the 
UNDP had approved $US 1.5m in support of the project on the CARICOM 
Single Market and Economy. 

Haiti's Membership of the Caribbean Community 

Heads of Government and Haiti exchanged notes agreeing on the terms and 
conditions under which Haiti will accede to Membership of the Caribbean 
Community. This was in keeping with the decision of the Eighteenth 
Meeting of the Conference in July 1997 to accept Haiti's application for 
Membership of the Caribbean Community on Terms and Conditions to be 
determined by the Conference. 

Heads of Government, therefore, looked forward to the early deposit of 
an Instrument of Accession by Haiti to the Treaty of Chaguaramas. The 
Caribbean Community Secretariat is the depositary for Treaty Instruments 
of the Community. 

Situation in Haiti 

Heads of Government expressed their appreciation for the contribution 
made by the members of the OAS/UN International Civilian Mission in 
Haiti in ensuring greater respect for human rights and in strengthening 
institutions essential to the deepening of the democratic process. They 
paid a special tribute to the Mission's Executive Director, Ambassador 
Colin Granderson, for his selflessness and objectivity in carrying out 
his responsibilities in a difficult and complex political environment 
and deplored the reduction in the size of the Mission, at a moment when 
its presence would be most vital as Haiti embarks on the process leading 
to general elections. 

Heads of Government accepted an invitation from the President of Haiti 
to despatch a mission to Haiti over the period 18-24 July 1999 in order 
to be appraised of the preparations for the forthcoming elections in 
that country. The mission is to be led by Sir James Mitchell. 
  

©1999 Haiti Online [HOL]. P.O. Box 960183 Miami FL. 33296-0183   


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