I AM PLEASED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CARICOM COUNTRIES, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, BARBADOS, BELIZE, DOMINICA, GRENADA, GUYANA, HAITI, JAMAICA, SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS, SAINT LUCIA, ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, SURINAME, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AND THE BAHAMAS.

IT WAS BUT A FEW DAYS AGO AT LIMA AT THE 28^th SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THIS ORGANIZATION ASSEMBLED TO ADOPT THE INTER-AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC CHARTER THAT WE, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD, WITNESSED THE HORRIFIC AND BARBARIC ACTS OF TERRORISM PERPETRATED AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND INDEED AGAINST HUMANITY.

WE HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT VIRTUALLY EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD HAS SUFFERED. MANY, INCLUDING CARICOM COUNTRIES, BY THE LOSS OF THE LIVES OF, OR PERSONAL INJURIES TO THEIR CITIZENS; SOME BY DAMAGE TO PROPERTY; WHILE OTHERS HAVE SUFFERED A MARKED DECLINE IN TRADE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A TERRIBLE AND SAVAGE ATTACK AGAINST HUMANITY, CIVILIZATION, DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM AND THE WAY OF LIFE OF ALL THE FREE AND PEACE-LOVING STATES OF THE WORLD.

ALL CARICOM GOVERNMENTS HAVE CONVEYED OUR DEEPEST SORROW, REGRET AND CONDOLENCES TO, AND HAVE EXPRESSED OUR SOLIDARITY WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN THIS MOST DIFFICULT AND TRYING TIME.

INDEED, MR. PRESIDENT, WE ARE ALL GRIEVING.

THE CARICOM STATES TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REITERATE OUR PROFOUND REGRET AND THE DEEPEST SORROW OF OUR GOVERNMENTS AND PEOPLE TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO EVERY NATION WHOSE CITIZENS SUFFERED LOSS OF LIFE OR PERSONAL INJURY AS A RESULT OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE 11^th OF SEPTEMBER 2001. INDEED, MR. PRESIDENT, ALTHOUGH THESE ACTS WERE CARRIED OUT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THEY WERE AN ATTACK ON ALL OF US.

MR. PRESIDENT,

ALL OF OUR GOVERNMENTS HAVE EXPRESSED OUR RESOLVE THAT THE PERPETRATORS OF THESE MOST HEINOUS ACTS, THOSE WHO HAVE DISPLAYED A BOLD AND BLATANT DISREGARD FOR LIFE, FREEDOM AND LIBERTY BE BROUGHT SWIFTLY TO JUSTICE. ALL OF OUR GOVERNMENTS RECOGNIZE THE AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY FACING THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE PLEDGED OUR SUPPORT TO AND COOPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN COMBATTING THIS EVIL, AND MANY OF OUR GOVERNMENTS HAVE ALREADY UNDERTAKEN MEASURES OF COOPERATION IN THIS RESPECT.

MR. PRESIDENT,

THE CONVOCATION OF THIS MEETING OF CONSULTATION OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS DEMONSTRATIVE OF THE GRAVITY WITH WHICH WE REGARD THESE ATTACKS UPON THE UNITED STATES, UPON NATIONS OF THIS HEMISPHERE, AND UPON THE WORLD. OUR PRESENCE HERE SIGNIFIES OUR UNITED RESPONSE TO THE CALL FOR ACTION.

OUR VERY WAY OF LIFE, OUR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELFARE, OUR STABILITY – ALL HAVE BEEN UNDERMINED. THE BASIC FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETIES IS NOW SERIOUSLY THREATENED. NO COUNTRY IN THIS HEMISPHERE STANDS ALONE. OUR ECONOMIC PROGRESS AND STABILITY, THE WELLBEING OF OUR NATIONALS, THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF OUR NATIONS ARE ALL INTERDEPENDENT WITH THOSE OF OTHER NATIONS IN THE HEMISPHERE. BUT MR. PRESIDENT, WE MUST NOTE THAT EACH OF OUR NATIONS IS ALSO DEPENDENT ON THE ECONOMIC WELLBEING, PEACE AND SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ALREADY WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SERIOUS ADVERSE EFFECTS TO OUR ECONOMIES BECAUSE OF THE ACTS OF TERRORISM COMMITTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. EVERY CARICOM STATE HAS BEEN GRAVELY AFFECTED.

MR. PRESIDENT, NOT ONLY HAVE OUR ECONOMIES BEEN SO AFFECTED BUT DEEP CONCERNS AND FEAR FOR THE FUTURE HAVE NOW BEEN IMPLANTED IN THE MINDS OF OUR NATIONALS.

CARICOM GOVERNMENTS RECOGNIZE THAT TERRORISM NOT ONLY SEEKS TO ROB CITIZENS OF THEIR PEACE OF MIND AND THE ABILITY TO REALIZE THEIR FULL HUMAN POTENTIAL BY RETARDING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT ALSO HOLDS THEM CAPTIVES TO IDEOLOGIES THAT SERVE THE SELFISH PURPOSE OF RENEGADE LEADERS. THIS MR. PRESIDENT, CONTRADICTS THE VERY PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY, PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH OUR NATIONS ARE BUILT, A HERITAGE THAT WE CHERISH AND ONE TO WHICH WE PLEDGE OUR GUARDIANSHIP.

JUST AS THE BAHAMAS AND OTHER CARICOM STATES, THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION OF 12 SEPTEMBER, 2001 AND THE OAS RESOLUTION OF 19 SEPTEMBER, 2001 GAVE SUPPORT FOR THE CONDEMNATION OF ALL FORMS OF TERRORISM, TODAY, WE ECHO AND CATEGORICALLY DECLARE A MILITANT RESOLVE TO JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN TAKING NECESSARY ACTIONS THAT WILL FERRET OUT, AND BRING TO JUSTICE, THE AUTHORS AND ACCOMPLICES OF THOSE BARBAROUS TERRORIST ACTS.

MR. PRESIDENT,

OUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY SIGNALS OUR RESOLVE TO HONOUR THE COMMITMENTS OF THE CHARTER IN SEARCHING FOR, AND ADOPTING A FIRM RESPONSE TO ACTS OF TERRORISM THAT HAVE COMPROMISED THE SECURITY OF OUR HEMISPHERE. CARICOM NOW JOINS IN THE CALL FOR THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION AND PROMISES TO HONOUR THE COMMITMENTS THEREIN.

MR. PRESIDENT, WITH YOUR PERMISSION I WILL READ THE STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIR OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY, THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE BAHAMAS, THE HONOURANLE HUBERT INGRAHAM TO THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STSATES OF AMERICA IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE TRAGIC EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON 11

SEPTEMBER, 2001 AND I QUOTE:

"CARICOM GOVERNMENTS AND PEOPLE HAVE, OVER THE PAST WEEK, EXPRESSED THEIR HORROR AND DISGUST AT THE TRGIC AND PREMEDIATED ACTS OF TERROROSM WHICH TOOK PLAE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON 11 SDEPTEMBER. WE CONDEMN THESE DASTARDLY ACTS WHICH RANK AMONG THE MOST REPREHENSIBLE THAT HAVE BEEN INFLICTED ON THE INNOCENT IN MODERN TIMES. THESE ATTACKS HAVE PLUNGED OUR WORLD INTO AN UNPRECEDENTED PERIOD OF PERIL, FEAR AND UNCERTAINITY. THEY HAVE ALSO BROUGHT IMMENSE SUFFERING TO NUMEROUS FAMILIES NOT ONLY IN THE USA BUT ALSO IN SEVERAL COUTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING CARIBBEAN STATES.

LIKE THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE PEOPLE OF THE CARIBBEAN ARE BEGINNING TO COUNT THEIR LOSSES IN BOTH HUMAN LIFE AND IN TERMS OF THE EVENTUAL SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC DISLOCATION AND DISTRESS TO ALL OUR STATES. WE EXTEND TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED GRIEVOUS LOSS, OUR HEARTFELT SYMPATHY. THEY SHALL BE REMEMBERED IN OUR PRAYERS.

AS WE MOURN, THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY DECLARES ITS SOLIDARITY WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, IN DEMANDING THAT THE MASTERMINDS, AND THOSE IN COLLUSION WITH THEM, BE FOUND AND THAT JUSTICE BE DONE."