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Contact:
Michelle Serieux
Thursday, July 01, 2004 - Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, in his
address to the joint session of the St Lucian Parliament on Thursday July 1,
2004, in Castries, stated that the fundamental purpose of CARICOM is to achieve
collectively what cannot be accomplished individually, so as to improve the
quality of life of Caribbean citizens on a sustainable basis.
According to Mr. Patterson, Caribbean people, rather than acting as separate
states, must first view themselves as a “community”, particularly in their
relationship with the rest of the world. “It is this portrayal of self which
will ultimately determine how the world sees CARICOM and the impact we have as a
collective force on the international stage,” he said. The Jamaican Prime
Minister encouraged Caribbean leaders not to be “distracted by what appears to
be the daunting agenda of a complex international environment.”
Prime Minister Patterson said that the Rosehall Declaration remained CARICOM’s
“guiding light” towards fortifying the Community machinery and deepening the
integration process. The PM acknowledged the extreme importance of the question
of governance within this declaration, stating that it provides a platform for
constant review and adjustment, to ensure efficiency in the management of the
Caribbean’s affairs.
The Jamaican Prime Minister insisted that CARICOM had served the Region well. He
maintained that CARICOM had provided an important vehicle through which common
positions on critical foreign policy issues can be developed and coordinated,
and that CARICOM had provided a framework for growth and maturity of many
regional industries. Mr. Patterson also stated that of particular importance was
the fact that it had provided a forum to showcase the creative talents of
Caribbean people and most significantly, CARICOM had been able to command great
respect and influence within international fora, despite limitations of size and
resources.
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