Madame Chair,
It is my pleasure to join with preceding speakers in congratulating you as you preside over this 35th General Assembly. Barbados pledges its support during this period and its cooperation throughout the coming year as we work together to implement the goals agreed to at Fort Lauderdale.

I also welcome and congratulate Secretary General Insulza as he begins his term of office. He may rest assured of Barbados' full commitment to the OAS and to Secretary General as he confronts the challenges which lie ahead.
CARICOM 11e,mber States represent stable, politically democratic institutions with the exception of the "one least developed country among us that is Haiti, which we have to help to democracy.

It was in the 1930's that the roots of the representative character of democracy were planted when a wave of social upheaval amongst the disenfranchised poor yorking class colonized people sparked the beginning of what ahs become a quiet ongoing social revolution. In Barbados and elsewhere in the Caribbean these uprisings led to fundamental social reforms that have made possible today the right to the universal
franchise, the minimum wage and the freedom of association among many others. The Caribbean experience in delivering the benefits of democracy call become a shared one within the Americas.

The existence of strong social institutions such as we have in Barbados and throughout the Caribbean are important to our democratic identity. They include the church, the media, trades unions, parliament, political parties and non-governmental organizations. These are among the institutions which underpin democracy. Where they are strong, then the democracy will be strong. Where they are weak or non-existent, then the democracy will be weak or non-existent. We understand in Barbados that the right to vote is perhaps the most salient but is certainly not the sole manifestation or benefit of democracy.

Free access to education and healthcare at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, consistently ranking highest among developing countries in the United Nations Human Development Index could not be achieved in Barbados if democracy was not entrenched in our society. Apart from benefits at the national level, there is ample proof that the Caribbean's strong democratic credentials have added value to the Organization of American States in the areas of human rights and the rule oflaw.

We in the Caribbean remain strongly supportive of the ideals of the Democratic Charter adopted by this body in 2001. In the words of the Rt. Honourable Owen S. Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados, during his address at the Opening Ceremony of the 32nd OAS General Assembly in the City of Bridgetown "The Inter-American Democratic Charter is " not the final destination. This instrument cannot remain static in this dynamic political environment in which we live. It will be necessary to revisit the Charter from time to time to incorporate elements that will allow it to become truly representative and keep us on the path of true democracy and of the creation of a truly democratic culture. Neither must the Charter be seen merely as a punitive instrument. It should serve both as a yardstick as well as a reference point from which we continue other supportive activities such as election monitoring, training and education and the strengthening of other complimentary instruments."

Democracies will from time to time face challenges. In one form or another, these challenges threaten the human security of our nations and range from poverty, through natural disasters of every kind, inequitable trading arrangements, HIV / AIDS right through to terrorism. For this reason, measures to enhance human security, which promote economic and social development, go hand in hand with the creation and maintenance of the foundations of democracy. In this context we view the Millennium Development Goals as pivotal in focusing and uplifting the development process.

The Member States of the GAS must be consistent in their support of democratic processes. We must be consistent and true to the high standards we espouse and would have others follow~ This is imperative if our deeply held principles about democracy, governance and liberty are to be believed and embraced by all.
For, while we may not be expected to complete this enormous task in our lifetime, neither are we at liberty to abstain from it.
Thank you for your attention.