President Arnold Foote addressing FICAC Caribbean Consular Conference. Also in photograph from left: Mr. Grantley Stephenson, Vice Dean of the Consular Corps of Jamaica, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, Mr. Antonio Alma, Chairman of the FICAC Caribbean Region, and FICAC Director Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig.

Welcome to the annual FICAC Caribbean Regional meeting, and a special welcome to all delegates from overseas.
Welcome to Jamaica.

I am deeply appreciative that Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, has taken the time out to be our keynote speaker this morning. Thank you very much Mr. Minister.

The theme chosen for this conference; “Enhancing intra-Caribbean relations”, is a very important one. I am certain that the FICAC Caribbean Region has the capability of making a meaningful contribution in this area.

The FICAC Caribbean region is part of the network of the World Federation of Consuls, which includes over 90 countries, and it has the full cooperation and support of the entire membership of our Federation at its disposal at all times.

The World Federation of Consuls was established in Copenhagen in October 1982 to bring together Consular Corps and Consular Associations to share experiences and co-ordinate efforts to enhance the effectiveness and status of the Consul, the oldest institution serving international bilateral relations.

Our first President, Hon. Vagn Jespersen of Denmark, served from 1982 to 1995. Succeeding Presidents were Consul General Andreas Mavrommattis of Cyprus, 1996 – 2000, Hon. Peter Gad Naschitz of Israel, 2000 – 2003, Hon. Roland Dahlman of Sw eden, 2003 – 2006.

Our Federation aims to:

• Promote and strengthen mutual understanding between Honorary Consuls and Career Consuls worldwide;
• Develop a framework and basis for exchange of current information, ideas and suggestions regarding matters related to the office of Honorary Consul.
• Promote at national and international levels for a better understanding of duties and responsibilities, rights and privileges of Honorary Consuls.
• Promote at national and international levels the development of trade between the Sending and Receiving States.

The World Federation of Consuls is incorporated in Belgium by Royal Decree as a Non-Profit International Organization.

Our Federation’s Permanent Secretariat is located in Brussels Belgium at 246 Avenue de Tervuren.

In 2006, when I was elected President of the World Federation of Consuls for the first time, I made a pledge to change the centres of influence of our Federation from Europe to be more inclusive towards Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean. I am pleased to say that I have kept that promise and today our Federation has organizations in every region of the world.

In keeping with this change we have formed the following FICAC Regions;

• East Asia – Chairman Hon. Vince Carlos of the Philippines.
• South Asia – Chairman Hon. Kartar Bhalla of India.
• South America – Chairman Hon. Lamartine Hollanda Jr. of Brazil.
• Central America – Chairman Hon. Eric Coufal of Mexico.
• North America – Chairman Hon. Paulina Biggs Sparkuhl of USA.
• Caribbe a-n Chairman Hon. Antonio Alma of the Dominican Republic
• East Europe – Chairman Hon. Marko Smole of Slovenia
• South Europe – Chairman Hon. Nikolaos Margaropoulos of Greece
• West Europe – Chairman Hon. Count Niccolo Caissotti di Chiusano of Monaco
• North Europe – Chairman Hon. Aykut Eken of Turkey
• Middle East – Chairman Hon. Khaled Miqdadi of Jordan
• Western Africa – Chairman Hon. Dimitri Avraam of Ghana
• Northern Africa – Chairman Hon. Ali Benkirane of Morocco
• Southern Africa – Chairman Hon. Amarkai Amarteifio, Vice President of FICAC.

The FICAC Regions are based on the United Nations categorization.

Some of our other achievements include the following;

• The FICAC/UNICEF programme to raise funds for the benefit of underprivileged children with HIV/AIDS. The slogan for our outreach programme is; “Consuls turning caring into action”.
• Our education programme with the Centre d’Etudes Diplomatiques et Strategiques in Paris
• The FICAC Education workshops
• Our International Trade Expos and Trade Fairs which achieved huge success in several countries
• The FICAC Consular Privileges Protection Committee
• The FICAC website www.ficacworld.org
• The FICAC News publication.
• The FICAC Who’s Who publication
• The World Federation of Consuls has United Nations recognition as an NGO with ECOSOC Status.
• Our Federation is also recognized as an NGO by the Organization of American States.
• The World Federation of Consuls is also recognized as an NGO at the European Union
• On 17th September 2010, the World Federation of Consuls signed a partnership agreement with the Prince Albert II Foundation of Monaco. The Foundation, created by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, is very active in the fields of the environment and climate change.
• The FICAC Regional Forums
• The FICAC International Cultural Galas
• Our membership programme is having excellent results. I recently attended the official inauguration of the Forum of Consuls of Bangladesh. It was a wonderful event in the presence of His Excellency, Hon. Mohammed Zillur Rahman, President of Bangladesh.

We are becoming a strong source of influence worldwide and this development will allow us to perform our duties more efficiently, and in doing so, give even better service to the Sending and Receiving States.

I sincerely hope that I have given you an idea of the work of our Federation as we strive to make a meaningful contribution to the world which we inhabit together.

Thank you all very much