NEW YORK — Ambassadors, delegates, staff and friends of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)) gathered in the Sputnik Area of the United Nations Headquarters on Monday, July 1, 2019, for a Caribbean-style reception in celebration of CARICOM Day.
“This was a commendable initiative undertaken by CARICOM Member States to collectively celebrate CARICOM Day at the United Nations,” according to a St.Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) press release.
Meanwhile, in Great Britain, London-based CARICOM) Heads of Mission hosted a CARICOM Day 2019 Reception on July 4 at the International Maritime Organization Headquarters (IMOHQ) to celebrate the 46th Anniversary of CARICOM, with cultural and culinary displays from the region.
The Bahamas was well represented at its displays by His Excellency Ellison Greenslade, QPM, Bahamas High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland; Second Secretary/Vice Consul Wilfred Adderley II; Finance Attache’ Vernique Joseph; Third Secretary and Vice Consul Marché Mackey; Senior Accounts Clerk Ms. Cheri Wood; Senior Manager BTO Europe Mrs. Kimberley Greenslade; Director BTO Europe Mr. Anthony Stuart; and Maritime Attache’ Mr. Bernis Pinder.
In its press release on the reception at the United Nations, SKNIS noted that CARICOM Member States “pulled out all the stops to provide guests with a taste of their nation’s finest rum, as well as some of their favorite delicacies and traditional foods.”
“From roti, green bananas and goat water to Johnny cake, conch chowder and chocolate, there was an abundance of food choices for all in attendance,” the release stated. “St. Kitts and Nevis served up an array of locally made rum and delighted the palates of the guests with delicious goat water and saltfish cakes. In fact, several guests returned for seconds and gladly packed cups of goat water to go.”
The release added, “Brief welcome remarks were delivered by Ambassador Rudolph Michael Ten-Pow while remarks were given by Chef De Cabernet Ms. Yanerit Morgan-Sotomayor on behalf of the President of the General Assembly, Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces. Ms. Morgan-Sotomayor also congratulated the Ambassadors and their respective teams for ensuring that CARICOM’s might on the world stage is realised. Video highlights of each CARICOM Member State played during the presentation while live entertainment was provided by two high energy female violinists. A youthful male steel pan player enlivened the audience with mellow island tunes.”
Continuing, the release stated, “The Secretary-General of CARICOM, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque of Dominica, addressed the audience via a video message expressing his deep appreciation and hope for CARICOM. Special commendation was rendered to Ambassador Rhonda King of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for her lead in her nation’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nation’s Security Council. A win for one CARICOM Member State is indeed a win for all.
“Chatter about world cup cricket made for good conversation after the formalities of the reception ended and all in attendance left with much hope for the future of CARICOM at the United Nations. A rum tasting contest also formed part of the lively reception.”
CARICOM was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which came into effect on August 1, 1973, with Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, as the first four signatories. Later 11 more countries joined the community. Originally the community united only English-speaking countries, but when a Dutch-speaking Suriname and French-speaking Haiti were added, CARICOM became a multilingual community.
St. Lucia Prime Minister Allen M. Chastanet assumed the rotating Chairmanship of CARICOM on July 1, which coincided with CARICOM Day, and will serve in that position for a six-month period, ending December 31,2019. In his capacity as the new Chairman, Prime Minister Chastanet hosted the 40th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in St. Lucia from July 3 – 5.
The 15 CARICOM Member States are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. There are five Associate Members – Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
