Madame Secretary-General,
Other Senior Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat,
Media Representatives,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

I make this brief statement humbled by the call of country and honoured by the acceptance of the leadership of the Caribbean Community to serve as Plenipotentiary Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to CARICOM.

I am thankful to Prime Minister Terrance Drew and the Government and People of Saint Kitts and Nevis for having reposed great trust in me to bridge the national and regional agendas in the integration architecture for the benefit of our nationals and residents.

I have come to the role at the close of the fiftieth year in the life of the Caribbean Community. It is a time of unparalleled challenges and potentialities. Whether it is to improve competitiveness in all sectors across the member-states, to achieve more coordinated trade negotiation outcomes, to advocate for global appreciation for the multifaceted nature of our vulnerabilities, or to promote political stability in each member-state, I pledge to actively serve in partnership with my colleagues in the Committee of Ambassadors for the shared benefit of all our peoples, from Belize to Barbados, from the Bahamas to Suriname.

I have accepted this role cognizant that the fortunes of the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis are inextricably bound with the shared pursuits of economic integration, foreign policy coordination, human and social development, and security as are espoused and pursued by the Community. With these pillars ever before me, I pledge my cooperation, my passion and my action, not only as the plenipotentiary representative of a member-state but also as a proud son of CARICOM.

I look forward to working closely with you, Dr. Barnett and the effectively accommodative staff of the Secretariat. I pray that God will crown our endeavours with success. Echoing the sentiments of the CARICOM Song I close by saying, “Today as a people united, Determined and steadfast we stand. We look to a brand-new horizon; The future now firmly in our hands.”

God bless CARICOM. Thank you.

Larry O D Vaughan
Georgetown, Guyana
March 14, 2023