“I therefore avail myself of the opportunity provided by this grand occasion to assure you, the OECS citizenry, of the absolute commitment of OECS Heads of Government to removing all restrictions to the Free Movement of OECS nationals throughout the Union by August of this year.” – Hon. Stephenson King, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and Chairman of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (Antigua Observer)

“We cannot play snakes and ladders or ludo with the fortunes of the people of this region in terms of their safety when in aircraft.” – Hon. Freundel Stuart, Prime Minister of Barbados (Barbados Nation)

“The State Department recently launched the International Diaspora Engagement Alliance. We call it IDEA. The alliance brings together governments, corporations, and nonprofit organizations to make it easier for diaspora communities to promote trade and investment, to start businesses, or develop other projects that will benefit their countries of origin. We have chosen the Caribbean to be the first region to demonstrate the impact of this alliance. So we are launching the Caribbean IDEA marketplace to foster collaboration between local entrepreneurs and members of the Caribbean diaspora. We hope that by working together we can create jobs and stimulate investment, and this marketplace will offer diaspora communities access to capital as well as technical assistance to help them get started if they are committed to invest in the country of origin.” – Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, United States of America

“It is good to know that we are at the top of our game, not only with the renowned Sappi awards, but with increased advertising and distribution.” – Neysha Soodeen, Managing Director, Toute Bagai Publishing

“The US$20 million makeover will make their stay more special than ever. From the reception area to the Wellness Centre, from the Clubhouse to a new Penthouse Suite, we are renovating, refurbishing and adding to the resort. So on the 3rd July, we will close the doors of the resort and begin the process of overhauling the facilities. Over a 12-week period we will create an even more memorable place to stay.” – Andrew Barnard, Marketing Director, The BodyHoliday (Saint Lucia)

“The added airlift created by the new flights represents an increase of more than 2,000 inbound passengers to the territory during the winter months and will help meet the growing demand from one of the destination’s top international markets. Since March of last year, the territory has seen more than 6,000 visitors from Canada and we anticipate growth of at least 20 percent resulting from this new flight.” – Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Tourism Commissioner, United States Virgin Islands (Virgin Islands Daily News)

“Tourism is one of the economic activities that allowed the region to recover from the recent global financial crisis. In my view, the need for a regional dialogue is more relevant than ever as the region faces not only the global economic crisis and volatile oil prices, but also climatic disturbances, and security challenges, as well as the need to build and strengthen existing strategic alliances within countries with the business community and between sub-regions so as to optimize the existing opportunities.” – Albert R. Ramdin, Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States

“Quotable Caribbean” is compiled by Marketplace Excellence, a full service, integrated marketing firm committed to  excellence in the fields of public relations, marketing and media coaching.