New secretary general committed to integration

ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC):

The newly appointed Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Irwin LaRocque, says he will continue to concentrate on efforts to deepen the integration process within the 15-member grouping.

"The future of the region lies with integration. In this world it is very difficult to go it alone and the more the region can do together to serve the development and to face the onslaught from the larger world, I think the imperative must be addressed", LaRocque told state-owned DBS radio following the announcement of his appointment last Thursday.

"I am humbled to become the region's senior public servant. There is a lot to be done in respect to the management of the secretariat itself but also in managing the integration process.

Considering the issues

I think it is no secret a lot of things are said about CARICOM and what it means and does not mean, and what it has achieved and not achieved, and I think there are a lot of expectations, so a number of these issues will have to be taken into account and at the end of the day see how we can continue with the integration of the community", LaRocque said.

Larocque, 56, replaces Sir Edwin Carrington who stepped down at the start of the year, has been serving as Assistant Secretary-General for Trade and Economic Integration at the Guyana-based secretariat for the past six years.

Prior to his appointment at the CARICOM Secretariat, LaRocque served as a permanent secretary in several ministries in Dominica.

"I am very proud to be a Dominican. I think it is a proud moment for Dominica. Dominica continues to punch above its weight. We produce excellent professionals regardless of what people say about us and I think we should all just take a bow", LaRocque said.