News Americas, GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Fri. July 22, 2011: A new Secretary General of the Caribbean Community, (CARICOM), has been named.
He is Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, 56, who is also the current Assistant Secretary-General for Trade and Economic Integration at the CARICOM Secretariat. The Dominican national has served in that post since September 2005.
Prior to his appointment as Assistant Secretary-General, he served as Permanent Secretary in various Ministries in Dominica for more than fourteen years, including in the Ministries of Trade, Industry, Enterprise Development, Tourism, and Foreign Affairs, where he headed the diplomatic service. LaRocque also served as the principal advisor to the Government of Dominica on all matters pertaining to economic integration and regional and international trade.
He was Dominica’s senior policy adviser on the revision of the original Treaty of Chaguaramas and served on the CARICOM Inter-Governmental Task Force which drafted the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
On being told of the appointment, Secretary-General-designate LaRocque stated: “I am humbled and privileged for this opportunity to continue my service to the Governments and people of the Caribbean Community. As we strive towards the goal of a Community For All, the confidence of the Heads of Government, the support of the people of the Community and the committed staff of the CARICOM Secretariat are vital in achieving that objective.”
Secretary General of the Organization of American States, (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, congratulated Larocque on his appointment and said he is “confident that you will bring a new and refreshing perspective on advancing the CARICOM integration process in the 21st century.”
LaRocque replaces Edwin Carrington, who retired from the post late last year.
