Secretary General Lauded as a Great Son of the Caribbean

Secretary General Edwin Carrington

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana): The Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) His Excellency Edwin Carrington has been described as a truly great son of the Caribbean who has made a sterling contribution to the region.

Speaking at the investiture of the Secretary-General into the Commander of Number of the Order of Civil Merit of Spain at a ceremony at the Spanish Ambassador’s residence in Kingston, Jamaica on Tuesday night, the Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Honourable Dr. Kenneth Baugh praised Mr. Carrington for his calm and for his sound advice to the region’s politicians over the period of his service as Secretary-General.

His Majesty the King of Spain had authorised the conferment of the award on Mr. Carrington and Spain’s Minister of State for Latin America and the Caribbean, His Excellency Juan Pablo de Laiglesia presented the award to the Secretary-General. The former Governor General of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Sir Kenneth Hall and the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Percival Patterson were among those present at the function hosted by the Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Jesus Silva.

Mr. de Laiglesia read the citation which stated that the award was in recognition of the Secretary-General’s years of service to the Caribbean and to the process of regional integration. The honour was also in recognition of the esteem in which the Secretary-General was held for ensuring the strengthening of the relations between Spain and CARICOM.

In accepting the award, Secretary-General Carrington said he accepted it with great humility and did so “on behalf of the people of the Caribbean (CARICOM and CARIFORUM) whom I have the privilege to serve.”

“It is always satisfying to be recognised for whatever small contribution one has made particularly in advancing co-operation between states,” the Secretary-General said. He added that the recognition “I have received tonight should be an inspiration to those of us who serve.”