Suriname President Desi Bouterse last week bestowed his country’s highest national award on CARICOM Secretary-General Edwin Carrington at a function held at the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo.
CARICOM, in a statement, said Carrington was given the Grand Officer in the Order of the Yellow Star at a ceremony held to mark Bouterse’s 65th birthday. CARICOM’s Assistant Secretary-General (Human and Social Development) Dr Edward Greene was given Suriname’s second highest award, the Grand Sash in the Order of the Yellow Star. In addition, Surinamese youth, on behalf of the youth of the Region, presented both Carrington and Greene with the Youth Lifetime Award in “recognition of their leadership and commitment to act in equal partnership with us, the future of CARICOM.”
Carrington, who participated in the arrangements that led to Suriname becoming a member of CARICOM in 1995, said he was “surprised, deeply moved and highly appreciative of the Award,” the statement said. In expressing his gratitude, he pointed out the contribution of his staff in the process. He also referred to the active role which Suriname, particularly its youth, had been playing in CARICOM. Noting his impending retirement, Carrington wished Bouterse and the Surinamese people continued success as part of the CARICOM family.
The awards ceremony capped a two-day visit to Suriname by a team from the CARICOM Secretariat, which briefed Bouterse on the functioning of the regional body and issues that the region currently faces. In addition to Carrington and Greene, the team included Assistant Secretary-General (Trade and Economic Integration) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and Chef de Cabinet, Office of the Secretary-General, Glenda Itiaba.
The briefings also focused on Suriname’s responsibilities within the Community’s Quasi Cabinet of Heads of Government–Community Development and Cultural Cooperation including Culture, Gender, Youth and Sport–with specific reference to the follow-up to the Special CARICOM Summit on Youth Development held in Paramaribo this year. The team also updated Bouterse on matters of governance and the Inter-Governmental Task Force that was reconstituted to further revise the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
According to CARICOM, Carrington took the opportunity to commend the work of the Caricom Youth Ambassadors of Suriname.
Carrington also visited the Caribbean Regional Information and Translation Institute and the Caricom Competition Commission, which are both based in Paramaribo. He met and addressed the staff members of both organizations, CARICOM said.
Suriname Minster of Agriculture and Fisheries Hendrik Setrowidjojo took the Secretary-General on a guided tour of the facilities earmarked for the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency, which is also based in Paramaribo. Carrington also visited a Public Health Laboratory that will form part of the network of the Caribbean Public Health Authority.
