“Grenada is willing, ready and eager to do its part in transforming our beloved Caribbean Community.”
That is the commitment of the newly elected Prime Minister Hon. Dickon Mitchell, in his address to the 43rd Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom in Suriname.
Hon. Dickon Mitchell said, “Our forefathers in 1973, envisioned a region with the ability to transform the lives of its people by working together, a community that can overcome its challenges, if we, without reservation, dedicate ourselves, our time, and talents to moving Caricom forward.”
“The region belongs to all of us. It is simply home,” the Prime Minister said in his remarks to the 43rd regular meeting of Caricom Heads, adding that efforts must be made to “touch” all states that call the region home, whatever the language. “Colleagues and friends, I have no doubt that if pursued vigorously, these ambitions are achievable, they are attainable and our Caribbean civilisation deserves them,” the Grenadian leader told his Caricom colleagues as he reflected on his own message to the Grenadian people during the recent election campaign.
When he pointed to the recent election of 3 members of the Grenadian Parliament who are under the age of 30, including one female candidate who is tasked with the important portfolio of Climate Resilience and Environment, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell echoed the words of the Caricom Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett and her Bahamian counterpart, who noted that more than 60% of the region’s population is under the age of 30. “I have no doubt that Grenada and the rest of the Caribbean are filled with talented, capable, hardworking young men and women who are prepared to rise to the challenge and to solve and overcome the challenges we all face.”
The Prime Minister and his delegation return to Grenada on Wednesday, 6 July 2022.
GIS
CARICOM / OECS Leaders have a bad track record of meeting and agreeing to things only to reneged.
Everyone goes back to their regional countries with nothing to show for it.
One will expect OECS/CARICOM meetings are used signed agreements. Enough with the talk make things happen.
PM of Antigua claimed to be open to regional air and sea travel.
The residents of the respective islands needs to know what it is in for them. In order words what are real benefits. This can come about by delving deep into the type of benefits.
For example, LIAT. What is the true cost operate LIAT? If the cost burdened is carried by all islands equally then each island must be served equally.
One of my bucket list is travel each Caribbean island and spend at least 2 week per island.
I remember years ago LIAT used to print a regional travel magazine which promoted flight and hotel accommodation packages. Some of the packages included island hopping 2 to 3 islands in a week at affordable rates.
I collected magazines as a result, I had a collection of magazines over the years. The photos in the magazines were very captivating. Each island were truly represented by the beautiful photos.
My entire Caribbean travel magazine collection was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan.
Another area is sea travel. What is the cost inter Island sea travel? Trinidad and Tobago is probably the best to share their expertise on how their managed sea travel as they have invested in large ferries.
The cost to undertake those services must be common knowledge to all residents. For example, a vincentian should know what it will cost his or her government and added benefits of cheap travel. In other words, a Vincentian should be able to jump on plane to Antigua just for heck of it without worry about outrageous prices.
Lack of will power of governments to follow through is an impediment to regional cooperation.
I wish I can get back my travel magazine collection.
The honey moon period ends soon – lets see concrete changes that will lift up the Grenadian people. Legalizing marijuana would be a good start – Grenada is blessed with land and weather .
all teh best my friend. Let the truth prevails. Forward always , the past is gone.
all teh best my friend. Let the truth prevails. Forward always , the past is gone.
Nice to hear that our new PM is fully engaged with the pointless talking shop CARICOM. No doubt claiming substantial expenses too…