by Kevon Browne
‘St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN) – To mark the golden jubilee of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), heads of government and representatives from member countries travelled to Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago, where the treaty was signed 50 years ago.
The CARICOM Heads were also in Trinidad and Tobago from July 3-5 for the 45th Regular Meeting, where regional heads, representatives, lawmakers, etc., addressed key topics such as crime and security, agriculture and food security, humanitarian issues, climate change and natural disasters during the meeting.
In his remarks, the Outgoing Chair, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Hon. Phillip Davis, said, “National and personal friendships, which have been strengthened over the past six months, will give us an even greater foundation on which to build”.
Additionally, the New CARICOM Chair, Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica, emphasises the need for unity in economic well-being, security, health, and disaster management in all our processes in his remarks.
As part of the Flag Raising Ceremony, the CARICOM heads and representatives signed a document to be put in a time capsule to be opened on the 100 anniversary of the signing of the treaty in Chaguaramas where the four founding fathers, Errol Barrow of Barbados; Forbes Burnham of Guyana; Michael Manley of Jamaica, and Eric Williams of Trinidad and Tobago, originally signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas to establish the Caribbean Community and Common Market on July 4th 1973.
Head of the Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit (RIDU) (Ag.) Ambassador H.E Larry Vaughn signed the document on behalf of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Following the signing of the document for the time capsule and bringing the flag-raising ceremony to a close was a tree planting outside of the old US naval base in Trinidad and Tobago, where the representatives from the fifteen Member States and five Associate Members planted six Poui trees to represent longevity and durability.
