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Contact:
Virnet
St. Omer-Fontenelle
Wednesday, July 06, 2005 – The 26th Conference of Heads of Government
being held in Saint Lucia is expected to accelerate the pace of Caribbean
integration. 2005 was designated the year of the CARICOM Single Market and
Economy CSME and half way through the year regional leaders are magnifying what
is at stake.
Prime Minister of Dominica Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit was optimistic about a
big pay day for the regions’ people. “…from where I stand I visualize a bright
picture of only peace, progress and prosperity redounding from a wider Caribbean
state and to this end you have my resolute and unswerving commitment. Let us
make 2005 a watershed in that relentless movement towards unity.” Hon Skerrit
was speaking at the time to the region, at the official opening of the
Conference of Heads of Government at the Sandals Grande St. Lucia Golf Resort
and Spa on Sunday July 3rd.
One day before the opening of the conference, Heads of Government and Leaders of
Parliamentary Opposition in a meeting agreed to a programme of public promotion
of the CSME. In his address Honourable Skerrit said, “For me, the way forward
will require the motivation and mobilization of the people … we must never
underestimate the wisdom of the ordinary citizen. Neither should we
underestimate the power of people when they are pulling together. It is only the
people working together who can turn around an economy. If is only the people
working together who can build nations.”
Mr. Skerrit was speaking against the background of the economic crisis in
Dominica which saw the country going to the International Monetary Fund.
Additionally Mr. Skerrit said the crisis which saw the Caribbean Community
rallying around Dominica has convinced his country that of “… the benefits of
unity and solidarity.”
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