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10/20/2004

Press Release

CSME and FTAA Matters Engage Attention at Suriname Workshop

Preparations for the public education program for the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) will continue this month with a “Champions of the CSME” workshop in Suriname.

During the October 26-27 workshop, nationals who were identified to serve as spokespersons on the CSME will be exposed to training geared at equipping them with the tools to deliver the regional integration message to diverse audiences in their homeland.

The workshop forms part of the education program of the CSME Unit of CARICOM and the Latin American and Caribbean Trade Project (LAC Trade), a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-supported initiative. It follows similar workshops which were held in Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica and Guyana earlier this year.

The spokespersons will also learn about the main issues of the CSME and will explore different types of education activities in which they could participate. Media specialists will also prepare them to engage in public speaking sessions and interface with various media outlets in the region.

Aspects of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) will also be discussed at the workshop.

Spokespersons who were trained in the earlier workshops are presently involved in various campaigns aimed at educating populations in the respective countries.

At least three CARICOM member states are expected to be CSME ready by the end of this year with the others being onboard by December 2005.