Former Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur will deliver the feature address at the Rotary’s World Understanding Dinner set for February 27.

A press release from the Public Communications Consultants Limited said Arthur’s address, before an anticipated audience of 250 representatives from government, business, civil society and other organisations, will examine the economic and social actions necessary for the success of the regional integration project.

While in his capacity as lead Prime Minister for the Caricom Single Market and Economy Arthur was renowned for his persistent commitment to integration. He saw his role as helping “ordinary citizens make sense of the bewildering” and consistently made the case that regional integration is the essential foundation for successful national and regional development the release said.

Arthur continually urges citizens and stakeholders to ““give Caribbean unity a chance”, the release said.

As far back as 1998 he foresaw the problems of global recession when he addressed the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF,” the release said. At that time Arthur had warned of calamitous consequences unless there was urgent reform of the international monetary and financial system. In that address he had said, “manner matters just as much as measures” since global interdependence demanded participation of all countries in this reform. The release said too these positions set the context for Arthur’s address.

Several leading businesses are assisting the Rotary Club of Georgetown in mounting the event which commemorates the founding of Rotary on February 23, 1905, the release said.