President Ramotar looking forward to practical outcomes from CARICOM Heads meeting
Georgetown, GINA, March 8, 2012
President Donald Ramotar and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett at the 23rd Inter Sessional Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Suriname
President Donald Ramotar was given a warm welcome as he joined his colleague Heads of State in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for the first time as they gathered in Suriname for the 23rd inter-sessional meeting.
The conference which culminates on March 9 at the Royal Torarica, includes a crisp agenda focusing on a strategic review of CARICOM, with specific focus on restructuring of its secretariat headquartered in Guyana, crime and security, cricket, air transportation, climate change and sustainable development.
President of Suriname and Chairman of CARICOM Desi Bouterse with the gathering of CARICOM Heads of Government and their delegation at the Twenty-Third Inter Sessional Meeting of the Confrence of Heads of Government of CARICOM AT THE Royal Torarica conference room in Suriname
The Guyanese Head of State was described as a “distinguished President” who is following in the footsteps of his predecessor former President Bharrat Jagdeo whom outgoing CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis Denzil Douglas, regards as one of the main contributors to the continuing development and integration of people within the region.
President Donald Ramotar greets St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves at the 23rd Inter Sessional Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Suroeste
The presence of Prime Minister of St Lucia Dr. Kenny Anthony and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller of Jamaica who were re-elected to office after their islands' constitutional elections was also acknowledged.
President Ramotar arrived on Wednesday with a delegation that included First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony.
Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller greets Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar at the Twenty-Third Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM at the Royal Torarica, Suriname
Former West Indies star batsman and chairman of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) Clive Lloyd is also part of the Guyana delegation to the CARICOM conference which has on the agenda the issue of governance of cricket at the national, regional, and international levels.
President Ramotar is looking forward to an outcome of practical policies and prorammes from the two-day deliberations. In a brief comment to sections of the Guyanese press he expressed hope that the dscussions on cricket will be satisfactory, especially with the reputation of the game to influence unity among the various peoples of the Community.
The publicity which cricket has gained in the press in recent times has not been dominated by runs, wickets and centuries but, rather by discrepancies among overseers and administrators of the game and players.
The furor has led to potential players and host venues being sanctioned and in some cases overlooked in the selection process for important tournaments.
In the case of Guyana the Government, following a recommendation by the Chief Justice, set up an Interim Management Committee to oversee the affairs of the game after infighting by members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).
Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit greets President Donald Ramotar at the 23rd Inter-Sessional Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Suriname
Surinamese President and incumbent CARICOM Chairman Desi Bouterse in his feature address, appealed to regional leaders to take stock of and, show loyalty to the immense capacity within the region, making reference to cricket icon Brian Lara, Olympian sprinter Usain Bolt and all the other Caribbean born athletes.
The Regional Sports Academy will be launched this evenin when the first batch of students will be presented to the Bureau of Heads of Government.
The institution will provide academic and sports training for students across CARICOM countries.
