Belize represented at Heads of Government meeting by Minister Sedi Elrington

Belize is being represented at the Thirty-Fourth Regular Meeting of The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which is being held in Port-of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from July 3-6, 2013, by Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington, his Chief Executive Officer – Alexis Rosado, and the Chief Executive Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister – Audrey Wallace.

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas—the instrument which gave rise to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)—in that same host country.

“Today, we can boast of being the longest surviving integration grouping among developing countries and second only to the European Union in global terms,” commented CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin Larocque, on the occasion of the milestone.

He said that the four pillars upon which our integration is built have withstood the test of time, allowing the Caribbean Community the latitude to expand the edifice of the Community for the benefit of its people.

“Economic Integration, Human and Social Development, Foreign Policy Co-ordination and Security Co-operation have enabled our Community to grow and provide benefits through the Single Market, Health, Disaster Management, Education, Technical Co-operation with third countries and ensuring a safe ICC Cricket World Cup to name a few,” Larocque added.

The Secretary-General also acknowledged the need for reform; but he asserted that the integration process would continue another forty years and beyond.

“Integration of the Caribbean Community is no esoteric ideal but a hard-headed reality—the same reality that drove the founding fathers to sign that Treaty forty years ago impels us now,” the Secretary-General commented.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who assumed the six-month rotational Chairmanship on 1 July, is the chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government.

A statement from CARISEC, the Secretariat of CARICOM, said that this year’s meeting will feature a re-enactment of the Treaty signing on Thursday, July 4, at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre.

“High on the agenda at the Meeting will be charting a new direction for growth and development, transportation, the reform process in CARICOM and a proposal for a high-level meeting on persons with disabilities and special needs,” the statement added.