WTO Caribbean Trade Policy Course concludes

Thirty-one government officials from 17 countries/territories attended on 22 April 2004 the closing ceremony marking the conclusion of the Caribbean Regional Trade Policy Course, organized by the WTO Secretariat, in partnership with the University of the West Indies. The course, held at the Mona Campus in Kingston, Jamaica, started on 2 February and ended on 23 April 2004.

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The ceremony was attended by Senator the Hon. Delano Franklyn, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and by Professor Kenneth O. Hall, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies. Mr. Alberto Campeas, Director of the WTO Development Division, as well as other representatives from the WTO Secretariat also attended the ceremony.

During twelve weeks, the participants were immersed in the WTO work and were given the opportunity to learn in a theoretical and practical way the functioning of the organization. Participating officials became acquainted, through lectures, debates, visits to regulatory agencies and simulation exercises, with virtually all the issues dealt with in the framework of the organization.

The overall objective of the course was to widen participants' understanding of trade policy matters, the multilateral trading system, international trade law and the functioning of the WTO. One of the main features of the regional trade policy courses is that all topics are presented by both WTO staff and regional resource persons from regional academic institutions and think-tanks.

Minister Franklyn congratulated the group for completing the demanding training programme and "wish for you and your territories success as you move to apply your talents in service of all the peoples of our region". He thanked the WTO for establishing a regional trade policy course in the Caribbean and said that "this is a testament to attempts by the WTO to fulfil the commitment given at the Doha Ministerial Conference in 2001 to provide enhanced technical assistance to developing and least-developed countries".

Mr. Campeas thanked the University of the West Indies for its unstinting support and commitment as well as the Vice-Chancellor and the Principal "for their support of this project from its inception". To the participants, he said "I believe you will be in a better position to analyse, develop and defend your national positions in the WTO".

On behalf of the participants, Miss Bernadette Butler from The Bahamas, said that "The Trade Policy Course, above all, afforded people from the region to interact and to discuss the issues that are relevant to us. The participants would like to thank the WTO and the University of the West Indies for providing us with this opportunity."

List of the participants back to top

Anguilla	Mr. RICHARDSON, Kenrick, Controller of Customs
Antigua and Barbuda	Mr. FREELAND, Michael, Trade Affairs Officer, International Trade Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Antigua and Barbuda	Miss GOMES, Natasha Marian, Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Bahamas	Miss BUTLER, Bernadette May Evelyn, Counsel, Office of the Attorney-General, Ministry of Trade and Industry
Bahamas	Mr. EDWARDS, Hermis David, Superintendent of Customs, Bahamas Customs Department, Ministry of Trade and Industry
Barbados	Miss HEWITT, Marlene, Senior Business Development Officer, Ministry of Industry and International Business
Barbados	Miss ODLE, Wendy Joanne, Economist, Ministry of Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Business Development
Belize	Mr. CASTELLANOS, Jose, Policy Analyst, Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries
Cuba	Mr. OLIVA, Juan Carlos, Trade Policy Specialist, Division of Trade policy with Africa and Middle East, Ministry of Foreign Trade
Cuba	Mrs. GARCIA, Piedad Viviana, Trade Policy Specialist, Division of Trade Policy with North America, Ministry of Foreign Trade
Dominica	Mr. HENRY James, Agricultural Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
Dominican Republic	Miss CAMPILLO, Salmi, Analyst, Economic Integration Division, International Department, Central Bank of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic	Miss CALLE, Cindy Sabrina, Project Coordinator, Technical Direction, Center of Promotion of Exports and Investment
Grenada	Miss PURCELL, Karline, Project Officer , Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
Grenada	Miss ST. BERNARD, Jillian Sallyann, Planning Officer, Planning Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Lands and Fisheries
Guyana	Miss LA ROC, Roxanne Ann, Foreign Trade Officer, Foreign Trade Department, Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation
Guyana	Mr. PICKETT, Deon Bransford, Foreign Trade Officer, Foreign Trade Department, Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Cooperation
Haiti	Mr. FRANCOIS, Emmanuel André, Chief of Export Promotion, Foreign Trade Division Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Haiti	Mr. BERNARDIN, Saül, Sub-Director, Airport Customs, General Administration of Customs
Jamaica	Mr. TAYLOR, Sean Andrew, Acting Director of Research, Customs Department, Ministry of Finance and Planning
Jamaica	Miss BUTLER, Joan, Manager of Trade Policy, Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Mr. EDWARDS, Charleton Ersdale, Supervisor of Training, Customs Department, Ministry of Finance
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Mr. BERRIDGE, Samuel Alharjai, Assistant Secretary, Desk Officer CARICOM / WTO Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Saint Lucia	Mr. FEVRIER, Stephen John, Foreign Service Officer, Trade and Legal Division, Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation
Saint Lucia	Miss LOUIS, Lisa, Commerce and Industry Officer, Ministry of Commerce, Investment and Consumer Affairs
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines	Mr. LEDGER, Ezra Dale, Director, Bureau of Standards, Ministry of Industry and Telecommunications, P.O Box 1506, Kingstown
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines	Miss ROSE, Mintrue Martina, Economist I, Economic Research and Policy Unit, Ministry of Finance and Planning
Suriname	Mrs. REWAT, Sadhna, Legal Officer, International Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Trade and Industry
Suriname	Miss VAN GLAANEN WEYGEL, Jeanelle Monique, Head of International Organisations Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Trinidad and Tobago	Mr. HABIB, James, Director, Americas Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Trinidad and Tobago	Miss LEWIS Trudy A. J., Economist II, Trade Division, Ministry of Trade and Industry