Incoming Chairman of Caricom, Vincentian Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves

He made the point while delivering the featured address at the opening of the Eighteenth Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government, on Monday in Kingstown.

"CARICOM has made immense strides since the signing and ratification of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas in July 2001," Gonsalves said.  "The Single Market is a reality and by 2008 the Single Economy phase of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) would be ushered in for further elaboration and completion, since, by its very nature, the CSME is an ongoing work in progress."

Gonsalves said this year is now the "vital preparatory year" and the Heads had much work to do.

"In 2008, the Single Economy will be upon us; by 2008 a redefined many-sided relationship, including, centrally, a trading arrangement between CARICOM and the United States of America, has to be formalised; by January 1, 2008, the European Union and CARIFORUM (CARICOM plus the Dominican Republic) is slated to conclude an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which portends altered relationships of real consequence to our region; in 2008, the Doha Development Round holds great promises and challenges for us; and by 2008 even more profound developmental relations between CARICOM and the Dominican Republic, Cuban and Venezuela are in the offing," Gonsalves said.

The Eighteenth Intersessional Meeting, according to Gonsalves, "is expected to advance our work on several fronts."

Theses include the furthering of the full implementation of the CSME; consideration of the Draft Strategy Paper on the 'Vision and Framework for the Single Economy'; reflections upon the proposals for altered governance arrangements of the Caribbean Community, especially those in the Report of the Technical Working Group; the bundle of issues relating to the historic hosting of the ICC Cricket World Cup; developments in the area of Health and HIV/AIDS; issues relating to Energy, Agriculture, Air and Maritime Transport, and the Free Movement of CARICOM nationals; recommendations emerging from organs or institutions of CARICOM as they relate to the Conference on the Caribbean in the USA, the CCJ, and the Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade, foreign policy, border issues, and the Competition Commission, and, vitally, CARICOM's active partnership with, and in Haiti.

Gonsalves said member-states of CARICOM are currently embarked upon the building of a modern, competitive post-colonial economy, which is at once national and regional. 

"This many-sided strategic task has ramifications beyond the purely economic and trading arrangements.

It has dimensions, too, which focus on the social, environmental, and governance issues," Gonsalves said.

The Vincentian Prime Minister also used the occasion to again raise the issue of an apology from those European countries, which were involved in the slave trade.

"In this the year of the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, we in CARICOM must pursue coherently and in a focused, not episodic, way, the legitimate demand for a full apology and reparations from the Europeans for African slavery, a dastardly act against humanity, and for the ignoble subjugation of indentured labourers from India, China, and Madeira," Gonsalves said.

"A genuine partnership between our region and Europe demands, among other things, this wholesome righting of historic wrongs.  The dignity of both the Caribbean and Europe justly summons this cleansing of the spirit and of the historical decks."

"In this Caribbean Community, at this intersessional meeting, our leaders, in shaping our future in communion with our people, must strive always to glimpse morning before sunrise, to see the dawn even at the darkest hour.  We, who have come with our limiting burdens of yesterday, face today with immense possibilities, amidst an amazing grace, for our glorious tomorrows.  We remember, we know, we dream, and we act for our people and for generations unborn.

"It is our destiny," Dr Gonsalves.

The CARICOM Heads will be in closed sessions until Wednesday, when they are expected to issue a statement.

Outgoing Chairman, St Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas, stated that the "Community can take pride in the progress", in advancing the agenda for the Caribbean Single Market and Economy, CSME.

"I am fully persuaded that the CSME is a critical tool that we must utilize to the fullest to bring meaningful benefits to the people of the region," Douglas said.  "It is important that all components of the Single Market and Economy are fully implemented within the timeframes that we have set ourselves."