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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Tuesday, July 05, 2005 - New Chairman of CARICOM Prime Minister
Honourable Dr. Kenny Anthony has described the recent joint meeting of CARICOM
Heads of Government and Leaders of Parliamentary Opposition as an historic sign
of the maturing political consciousness of the region.
Dr. Anthony says this direction can only augur well for the enhancement of the
political climate in CARICOM member states. This unprecedented move says Dr.
Anthony, is one example, the rest of the democratic world should learn from.
“This is really the first time anywhere that elected political leaders without
the promptings of war or crisis have formally occasioned a face to face
encounter with their competitors, once again we see the Caribbean setting the
pace for others to follow and we’re pleased that Saint Lucia has provided that
setting.”
The Saint Lucian leader who also gave a verbal commitment to doing his best
during his six month tenure which begun on Sunday July 3rd underscored the
importance of sharing of common ideals across the partisan divide.
“I hope that yesterday’s meeting at last herald’s the dwindling of an era when
governance was seen as the exclusive domain of governments. What we are doing
expands the meaning of our democracy that is a testament to the fact that there
is common ground in our separate agendas.”
Dr. Anthony says the meeting which was convened on Saturday, July 2nd, was
evidence of a collective will by the political leaders of the region to tackle
the many obstacles affecting moves to redefine the politics of the Caribbean
Community.
The outcome of the meeting with parliamentary opposition colleagues have been
formally placed on the agenda for this week’s conference.
Dr. Anthony was at the time addressing the official opening of the 26th Meeting
of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community CARICOM.
The meeting at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa and Beach Resort started July
3rd and will end on July 6th 2005.
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