In
Their Own Words, Hosts and Participants Of The Caribbean
Multi-National Business Conference
“In times of adversity, opportunities usually come knocking and
so it is with this conference, offering participants the
opportunity to renew alliances, forge new ones and a platform
for dialogue between key regional stakeholders and United States
public and private policy makers and industry shakers. Real
chances for new alliances and investment ventures are in the
offering, amidst the workshops, which have been carefully
selected to address themes that are timely and of interest to
developing societies.”
Commissioner Sara A. Wescot-Williams
Leader of Government, St. Maarten, 2008
“The Caribbean Multi-National Business Conference comes at an
opportune time for our twin-island nation (Antigua and Barbuda).
Our government of three years old, has made a clean break with
the past, and our nation is now redefining itself wit new values
in governance. “It is my belief that the hosting of this
conference will serve us well as we confront the new challenges
that come with the Caribbean Single Market and Economy and as we
confront the increasing stresses of globalization.”
Winston Baldwin Spencer,
Prime Minister, Antigua & Barbuda, 2007
“It was my first time at the conference and the benefits were
obvious.”
Sam Hinds,
Prime Minister, Guyana
Business Conference 2007 In Antigua
“As we have done across the U.S. and Africa, we are open for
business, to buy from the Caribbean. We are looking for
designers and other creative people whose products may find a
niche in our stores.”
Ed Goldberg,
Senior Vice President of Government affairs, Macy’s
Business Conference 2007 In Antigua
“The results of this conference went far beyond our original
expectations when we began the effort to host this marvelous
conference. The process of bringing families together, of
sharing a vision for our countries, couldn’t have been scripted.
It allowed us to share so much. The sessions brought out ideas,
options and other benefits, which should be long-lasting. It was
more than we expected.”
Juan Carlos Navarro, Mayor of Panama, 2006.
“Over the years, this conference has been a premiere event,
merging Caribbean public and private sector leaders together
with their counterparts from the United States in order to
address key issues in Caribbean development, in particular,
areas of new ventures and trade alliances. “This year’s
theme, “Building Strategies for Global Competitiveness,” proves
it is in our best interest to continue discussions geared
towards making critical decisions on issues that affect business
initiatives in the community that will prepare us to achieve
greater economic growth.”
Charles W. Turnbull
Governor, United States Virgin Islands, 2005
“This conference will not only provide the opportunity for an
enriched atmosphere of social intercourse but a meaningful cross
fertilization of ideas and best practices that can be emulated
and implemented to bridge the social, economic and digital
divides and enhance the betterment of peoples of the region.
“Your presence here (in St. Kitts-Nevis will certainly motivate
and inspire us and I am certain that the contents of the agenda
of this four-day conference and the benefits that would accrue
would not only make St. Kitts Nevis a more prestigious
destination but would reposition us more securely and
conspicuously on the map of the world.”
Dr. Denzil L. Douglas,
Prime Minister, St. Kitts-Nevis, 2004
“Ironically, it was in Grenada in 2001, a few weeks after the
terrorist assaults on the United States that we introduced the
health forums as an essential item in the conference program.
The forum has certainly brought a new dimension to our
deliberations. “
Dr. Pat Hazlewood, (Ret.) Professor of Health Services,
Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New
York
St. Kitts-Nevis, 2004
“I am very glad I came. The discussions and the dialogue with
the member of the (U.S.) Congress were invaluable and should
help the Caribbean. I am glad I Came.”
Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General, Caribbean Community,
CARICOM, Conference in the Bahamas, 2003.
“Those who don’t attend are missing a golden opportunity.”
Julian Hunte, President United Nations General Assembly,
After attending the conference in the Bahamas, 2003.
“Once again it has facilitated a dialogue at a crucial time when
we are negotiating the Free Trade of the Americas and when we
have a major financial challenges caused by the need to spend
large sums of money to boost our security in the region. We are
committed to the fight against terrorism but it comes with a
price, a heavy price on our budgets which must be met.”
Dame Billie Miller, Barbados’ Deputy Prime Minister,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade,
Conference in the Bahamas, 2003.
“It was an outstanding success. It has certainly helped to
strengthen our relations with the Congressional Black Caucus and
African-American Business people.”
Perry Christie,
Prime Minister, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, 2003
“I do feel a sense of time and urgency that speaks to the
question of if I’ve done enough to advance the cause of my
people. History has been tenacious in its demand on us.”
Dr. Harry Belafonte,
Internationally known movie, stage and television actor, 2003
Multi-National Business Conference, the Bahamas.
“There are opportunities for the Caribbean to outline its
problems to members of Congress but it may very well take some
special hearings by a Congressional Committee to bring the
issues to the members of the House (of Representatives).”
U.S. Representative Donald Payne,
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives,
In the Bahamas, 2003
“We must look at how we can help alleviate some of these
problems confronting the Caribbean in the areas of security,
terrorism, trade and tourism, to mention a few.”
U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee,
Member, House of Representatives,
In the Bahamas, 2003
“We started with a little mom and pop fast food place in the
Bronx over 20 years ago and with hard work we are able to
developed our baked goods and then Caribbean Food Delights that
now mass produces frozen Jamaican foods for wholesale. We have
come a long way.”
Vincent Hosang,
Founder, Chief Executive Officer,
Royal Caribbean Bakery, the Bahamas 2003.
“St. Maarten has been committed in its resolve to attract such
events to our shores, recognizing the impact on our tourism
product and the economic spin-offs thereof. As such, it is
envisioned that the conference will not only re-affirm existing
alliances, but that it will also serve to establish new, strong
linkages between various governmental and non-governmental
entities, beneficial to all concerned, including the island of
St. Maarten.
Franklyn Richards,
Governor of St. Maarten, 2002
“We stand firm with the United States and count ourselves as an
ally in the ongoing efforts to combat terrorism.
“The various workshops of this timely conference, address key
areas of the development for the (Caribbean) region. I have no
doubt that presentations by the distinguished speakers and the
ensuing discussions among participants will provide significant
insight and direction for the policy makers and leaders in both
the public and private sectors.”
Dr. Keith Mitchell,
Prime Minister, Grenada, 2001
”We certainly consider the meeting between Caricom government
representatives, including the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr.
Keith Mitchell, and the Black elected representatives from
across the United States as one of the highlights of the
conference,”
Dr. Lemuel Stanislaus,
Grenada’s Ambassador to the United States, 2001
“This annual meeting is very important for business and for the
(Caribbean) region as a whole. We are all very interested in the
growth and development of the region and anything that helps to
realize that goal must be supported enthusiastically.”
Gordon “Butch” Stewart,
Chairman, Sandals Resort, and Air Jamaica, 2001.
“As we meet for the Fifth Annual Carib News Business Conference,
the points which connect us are too obvious to mention.
“But we must not take them for granted simply because they are
so compelling. We must ensure that Marcus Garvey’s
prophecy comes to pass. All we ask is that as a people we are
allowed to realize our full potential. We can no longer afford
to be the victims of change.”
P.J. Patterson,
Prime Minister of Jamaica,
In Jamaica 2000
“We have a commitment to economic development at home and in the
Caribbean and that’s why we are here in Jamaica” at the
Multi-National business Conference.
Esther Silver-Parker,
President of the AT&T Foundation,
In Jamaica 2000.
“This is my third conference and it was the best of all.”
The Rev. Andrew Young.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
and later Mayor of Atlanta, in Jamaica, 2000.
“There wouldn’t have been a banana problem (in the Caribbean)
had we (Congressional Black Caucus) known about the issue before
it went” to the World Trade Organization.”
U.S. Representative Charlie Rangel,
Member, U.S. House of Representatives,
In Jamaica, 2000
“The countries in the Caribbean suffered a major blow when they
were excluded from the North American Free Trade Act, the free
trade zone that went into effect six years ago and includes the
U.S., Mexico and Canada. “The exclusion prompted many
large businesses –especially textiles and garment makers, to
close shop and move to Mexico, leaving thousands of workers
unemployed.”
Wall Street Journal,
A report on trade between the U.S. and the Caribbean and on
the Carib News Multi-National Business Conference, 2000
“A chance for our combined efforts to help build a stronger,
more prosperous Jamaican nation and indeed, a more competitive
and investment friendly Caribbean nation.”
P.J. Paterson,
Prime Minister of Jamaica. 2000
“What we learned is that we must work harder to do better and we
will put together a results-oriented plan that will commit us to
create economic opportunity by requiring minority
sub-contractors on all of our construction projects, extending
our advertising and sponsorship to the African-American
Community, recruiting and developing more African American
managers and strengthening our diversity programs. These are
among a dozen other important initiatives.”
Ted Teng,
President, Wyndham International,
Jamaica, 2000
“At this conference we are looking at bananas. But it isn’t just
bananas. It is our helping the United States to understand that
the global economy will not make sense if you are just putting
all of your money in Russia.”
The Rev. Andrew Young,
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
In St. Lucia.
“We in the U.S. Virgin Islands are a small country, although we
are a territory. We often get overlooked when legislation is
being passed in the Congress, even though we are part of the
United States. We are very sensitive to the issues affecting the
Caribbean of our size, because of our situation. I think we can
put a Caribbean face on the issues.”
Dr. Donna Christian Christensen,
U.S. Virgin islands Delegate, House of Representatives,
St. Lucia,
“For years we have searched for ways and means to bridge the gap
between Afro-Americans and the peoples of the Caribbean.
Sometimes, we politicians are so incompetent, so lacking in
foresights and organization skill and talent. Today, Carib News
has achieved the impossible. The waters that divide us have been
parted, to allow us to walk together hand in hand.”
Dr. Kenny Anthony,
Prime Minister, St. Lucia.
“It is a powerful technology. In fact, since I left you (last
year at the Second carib News Multi-National Business Conference
in Barbados), AT&T has spent, we have basically invested $12
billion in TCG, we have invested $43 billion in purchasing TCI
and as I speak we are investing $365 million in a cable that
will literally connect Latin America and the Caribbean, that
will carry some 600,000 conversations at the same time. This is
awesome technology.”
David Jefferson,
President, Atlantic Sales, AT&T,
In St. Lucia.
“The African American Community can be a major source of
investment finance in the Caribbean. Attracting major investment
for big projects is not all that difficult. We have seen vast
sums of money poured into these projects. What we often forget
is that many of the projects in the region are relatively small.
Some 60 per cent of our hotel projects are at a level where we
would have to call them small businesses.”
Jean Holder,
Secretary-General, Caribbean Tourism Organization
In St. Lucia
“Doing business together in an increasingly competitive
international market is impinging in an unprecedented way on
national decision-making authority and indeed on national
sovereignty. That is why a conference such as this, which brings
the actors together away from the negotiating table in an
atmosphere of information-sharing, exchanger of views,
discussions and joint reflections, is so critical to the
building of these partnerships.”
Dr. Pearlette Louisy,
Governor-General, St. Lucia.
“We are living and doing business in a rapidly changing
technological age, one in which the global marketplace is being
reduced to the click of a computer mouse.”
Sheree-Ann Spencer,
Vice President, Chase Manhattan Bank,
In St. Lucia.
Doing business internationally represents many challenges and
for me personally has represented many, many opportunities.
There are many rewards from doing business internationally.”
Liz Alicea-Velez,
Vice President, Western Union.
“In the same way that we have Trans Africa, Constituency for
Africa and Africare, we need to create similar entities for the
Caribbean. We need at least one Pan Caribbean institution that
can serve as a lobbying arm for the region.”
David Dinkins,
Former Mayor, New York City
In St. Lucia
“To fight to save our banana industry is a battle from which we
cannot withdraw, a campaign we cannot afford to lose. Too much
is at stake.”
Edison James,
Prime Minister, Dominica,
St. Lucia.
