P.M. addresses CARICOM opening
The CARICOM summit opened this evening in Montego Bay, Jamaica with a number of perennial regional projects about to reach critical mass; among them the single market and economy and Caribbean Court of Justice. One of the keynote speakers at the opening ceremony was Prime Minister Said Musa.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“This meeting will be historic not for looking back over thirty years, but for building the foundation for a better future. We will take steps that will lead to the creation of the implementation machinery and government structures to make the C.S.M.E. an effective instrument for expanding markets, disseminating knowledge by increase exposure to new technologies, facilitating competition, stimulating gains in productivity, improving our investment potential. The Caribbean Court of Justice is one such vital institution and my government is committed to make this our final appellate court.”
“The time my well come too to create a Caribbean Commission ask proposed a decade ago by the West Indian Commission, with clear and specific mandates to implement the tasks set for it by the Heads of Government, the Head’s conference of Heads and other organs of the community. But none of this will mean anything to our peoples if it is only a few who can benefit from these opportunities. People are the real wealth of nations and the main goal of development must be to create an enabling environment for people to enjoy an expanded range of choices and forge a better quality of life for themselves, their families and their communities. We must equip our citizens, especially our more disadvantaged people with the knowledge and opportunities necessary to take full advantage of the potential of the C.S.M.E.
“Every decision we make, every action we take, must redound to the positive benefit of the people we represent. We must involve civil society in our decision-making and seek a dynamic partnership with the private sector and trade union representatives. Integration has been CARICOM’s best hope for survival. As we continue to advance this great work, we must ensure that the structures we build and the results we achieve are indeed designed to improve the welfare of the Caribbean man and woman. Thank you.”
Tonight’s opening was broadcast live via satellite courtesy of the Caribbean Media Corporation.
