BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – A landmark occasion in the 31-year history of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom) unfolds in Guyana today with the ceremonial opening of a new and modern headquarters.

It is a gift from the Guyana Government.

From Caricom’s inception in July 1973, Guyana has been home to the secretariat, which was initially housed on two floors of the Bank of Guyana in the heart of the capital, Georgetown.

But the secretariat was compelled, in later years, to occupy offices in other buildings as a consequence of the significant growth in staff and demands for improved facilities to serve the expanding services required of the regional institution.

Constructed at an estimated cost of US$8 million, with approximately US$4 million in grant assistance from Japan, the complex – comprising a main centre and an ancillary building – is located on the eastern outskirts of Georgetown.

It includes parking areas that form an inter-linked driveway to accommodate some 300 cars.

The realisation of the project has been long in coming and its ceremonial opening fulfils a promise of the third-term People’s Progressive Party/Civic government.

Both president Bharrat Jagdeo and Caricom Secretary-General Edwin Carrington, currently completing a third consecutive five-year term, will be among main speakers.

Colin Cumberbatch, project officer for administrative services at the secretariat, says the entire main building is characterised by a dark reflective glass facade, designed to minimise the transmission of direct sunlight into the fully air-conditioned and carpeted structure and its modern modular partitions and furniture.

Built by S A Nabi & Sons Limited in association with Newel Lewis Broadbridge Associates, the headquarters complex will also house an information and documentation centre that is intended to serve as an information base for both the secretariat staff and the regional public.

The inauguration ceremony will highlight the substantial completion of the complex, but contractual obligations required by the Guyana Government are to be met in time for staff to fully occupy the building by June this year.

The Caricom complex is located within the vicinity of a US$1.2-million national conference centre under construction, a gift to the Guyana Government by the People’s Republic of China.

It is being built by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company and is expected to be completed by November. The Caricom Secretariat has been advised of its availability for use as necessary.

Caricom’s own headquarters complex is coming on stream at a time when new initiatives are in process to make the secretariat more effective for a new working relationship with a proposed four-member Caricom Commission.

Once created, the commission will be empowered with executive authority to implement decisions for Caricom and its ongoing plans for economic integration.