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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.
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