When the working sessions of the 19th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference begin on July 1, St. Lucia’s Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony will assume the position of Chairman. He takes over from Keith Mitchell - Prime Minister of Grenada.

Dr. Kenny Anthony who has been St. Lucia’s Prime Minister for just over one year is no stranger to CARICOM. He recently served as General Counsel for the Caribbean Community.

Dr. Anthony, "I want to provide a leadership that is very, very engaging, open. The same style of leadership that I've brought to St. Lucia and I would want to see that translated to the regional arena."

Prior to 1992, the Chairman was chosen on an ad hoc basis. CARICOM’s Chairman is now determined by a pre arranged formula agreed upon six years ago. Under this arrangement OECS member states assume the chairmanship of CARICOM in alphabetical order.

Dr. Anthony’s agenda as chairman is largely fixed. He is expected to lead in the negotiation of a number of regional and international agreements. Negotiations like the LOME which starts in September and the whole question of marketing arrangement for Caribbean bananas.

Prime Minister Anthony assumes chairs CARICOM at a period when it is delicately poised to liberalize the movement of capital and people among member states.

The nine Protocols that will herald in the Single Market and Economy are all expected to be signed at the end of Dr. Anthony’s term as Chairman.

Public education is being viewed as critical to the success of regional liberalization.

"We have to do extra in order to get our people ready for the discipline of competition," says Minister for Foreign Affairs, George Odlum. He raises the question, "Can we get our workforce into that mode, can we get our people to respond?"