Government Appoints Ambassador to CARICOM

Contact: Roger Joseph

Friday, April 06, 2001 - The Government of St. Lucia has named an Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM))- He is Mr. Anthony Severin, who until now served as Cabinet Secretary and Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Kenny D. Anthony has for some time been expressing a need for deepening of St. Lucia's relations with the member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and to accord greater priority to that relationship. He indicated that Mr. Severin's appointment came as a result of a recommendation by the regional grouping's Council on Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) that member states should appoint Ambassadors to manage, facilitate and coordinate their relations with CARICOM.

The Prime Minister said there was now even greater need for an Ambassador to CARICOM in view of his expanded responsibilities as Prime Minister with lead responsibility for Justice and Governance within the community. In the year 2000, for example Prime Minister Anthony was required to assist in the resolution of pressing difficulties in several member states including Haiti, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago. Such responsibilities require constant monitoring and follow-up action. COFCOR’s recommendation attends to that need, and, consequently, Cabinet agreed to the appointment of an Ambassador to the Caribbean Community.

The appointee will be designated "Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary" and will function out of the Office of the Prime Minister. The Ambassador will nevertheless be working very closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The assignment will also facilitate attendance to the responsibilities of the Prime Minister within the Quasi Cabinet of CARICOM in the area of Justice and Governance.

The Ambassador’s office will, inter alia, be the focal point of all communication from and to CARICOM; coordinate with Government Ministries in their relations with CARICOM; and liaise with the local private sector on matters relating to the Caribbean Community.

In making the appointment, the St. Lucian Government follows similar action already taken by several other CARICOM member states, including Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis.

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