PM Douglas installs new CARICOM Secretary General, LaRocque told he gets an institition with an ambitious agenda

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS – CARICOM Chairman, St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has told the region’s top civil servant that he has been bequeathed an institution with an ambitious agenda whose scope is far reaching.

“With your leadership the Secretariat must chart the way forward to redefine the sphere of our foreign policy cooperation so as to accentuate our own relevance as a grouping which has a voice in international discourse…a voice that can resonate in the halls of global institutions and agencies and throughout the borders of the world’s communities,” said Prime Minister Douglas during the Installation Ceremony.

Speaking from the Barbados Mission in New York via video conference, Prime Minister Douglas told His Excellency Irwin LaRocque at the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana, that the integration movement must continue to be respected for the contribution that it can make as it strives to gain even greater prominence in the global decision making process on the issues that will remain on the region’s agenda such as Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Security and Financial Services.

He said given the enduring principles and inspiring purpose of its existence, CARICOM as an institution has to draw from its own internal strengths, successes and achievements to shake off the ambers of its failures and challenges, and soar to new heights.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas at the Barbados Mission in New York during the installation of the new Secretary General of CARICOM, His Excellency Ambassador Irwin LaRocque.
“The urgency for effective action cannot be underscored. Under your tenure the region must devise creative measures to tackle and surmount the crippling, vicarious circumstances that are extraneous to our region and find the light in the darkness of the global tunnel that presently constrains us. The agenda is demanding but relevant. We must address the pressing governance issues that will lead to the accomplishment of the core mission of the Secretariat,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He said the provisions of the Revised Treaty of Chagauramas must not be illusive but will be the guiding principles for our own survival and renewed mandate. Secretary General, you must be bold, creative and visionary in addressing the issues of governance, community relations and foreign policy coordination, human and social development, and security in its broadest sense.

H.E. Irwin LaRocque
“Under your astute supervision of the work of the Community you must ensure that functional cooperation, that was once the focus of our solemn declaration at the Twenty-Seventh Meeting of the Conference of Heads in 2007, must again define the political, economic, social and security goals of the Community. This must pervade the programmes and plans of its various organs and agencies as we seek to deepen the integration process to respond to the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by the changes in the global economy,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He told Ambassador LaRocque that under his tenure “the embers of our human, intellectual and institutional resources must be rekindled as we restructure to achieve greater efficiency in our service to the people of the region especially our youths, whose depraved life of crime reflects a wanton disregard for humanity. If we do not act now this will derail the gains that we have made in improving our productivity and competitiveness as a region. You must set goals for greater accountability and take full responsibility for the enormous and anticipated achievements as you stay the course as the new Secretary General.”

“The Conference, organs and people of the Community pledge our full support and resources to the work of the Secretariat and its dedicated cadre of professionals,” said Dr. Douglas.

Speaking from the Barbados Mission in New York via video conference, Prime Minister Douglas told His Excellency Irwin LaRocque at the CRICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana, that the integration movement must continue to be respected for the contribution that it can make as it strives to gain even greater prominence in the global decision making process on the issues that will remain on the region’s agenda such as Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Security and Financial Services.

He said given the enduring principles and inspiring purpose of its existence, CARICOM as an institution has to draw from its own internal strengths, successes and achievements to shake off the ambers of its failures and challenges, and soar to new heights.

“The urgency for effective action cannot be underscored. Under your tenure the region must devise creative measures to tackle and surmount the crippling, vicarious circumstances that are extraneous to our region and find the light in the darkness of the global tunnel that presently constrains us. The agenda is demanding but relevant. We must address the pressing governance issues that will lead to the accomplishment of the core mission of the Secretariat,” said Prime Minister Douglas.

He said the provisions of the Revised Treaty of Chagauramas must not be illusive but will be the guiding principles for our own survival and renewed mandate. Secretary General, you must be bold, creative and visionary in addressing the issues of governance, community relations and foreign policy coordination, human and social development, and security in its broadest sense.

“Under your astute supervision of the work of the Community you must ensure that functional cooperation, that was once the focus of our solemn declaration at the Twenty-Seventh Meeting of the Conference of Heads in 2007, must again define the political, economic, social and security goals of the Community. This must pervade the programmes and plans of its various organs and agencies as we seek to deepen the integration process to respond to the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by the changes in the global economy,” said Prime Minister Douglas

He told Ambassador LaRocque that under his tenure “the embers of our human, intellectual and institutional resources must be rekindled as we restructure to achieve greater efficiency in our service to the people of the region especially our youths, whose depraved life of crime reflects a wanton disregard for humanity. If we do not act now this will derail the gains that we have made in improving our productivity and competitiveness as a region. You must set goals for greater accountability and take full responsibility for the enormous and anticipated achievements as you stay the course as the new Secretary General.”

Dr. Douglas, who took over the chairmanship of CARICOM congratulated Mr. LaRocque and extended best wishes as he assumes his duties as the seventh Secretary General of the Caribbean Community.

“The Conference, organs and people of the Community pledge our full support and resources to the work of the Secretariat and its dedicated cadre of professionals,” said Dr. Douglas.