ANNOUNCEMENT

The Caribbean College of Paediatricians was formally launched on March 2^nd, 2007 at the 4^th Biennial Conference of the Paediatric Association of Jamaica. The College hopes to attract membership from all Caribbean Child Health professionals including those nationals who are currently working overseas. Other professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the health and welfare of Caribbean children will be recommended for honorary membership of the CCP.

Aims and objectives include:

• Advocacy in matters pertaining to the health and welfare of children in the Caribbean, and to act as a resource for member governments and for Caricom
• Implementation of the highest possible standards of health care for Caribbean children
• Liaison with regional medical councils and teaching institutions to ensure maintenance of paediatric competence and standards and in the future accreditation of Paediatricians trained and/or practicing in the Caribbean
• Strengthening of linkages between Paediatricians practicing in the region for the sharing and exchange of skills and resources; to support colleagues practicing in lesser developed areas; and to provide a unified body for advocacy issues
• Improvement of Continuing Professional Development opportunities, in particular for members practicing in non-campus territories.

The 1^st Executive includes:

President – St. Lucia (Dr. Jacqueline Bird)

Vice-president – Jamaica (Dr. Minerva Thame)

Secretary – Trinidad & Tobago (Dr. Vanessa Stewart)

Treasurer – Bahamas (Dr. Corrine Brown)

Education/Accreditation Coordinator – Jamaica (Dr. Matthias Antoine – deceased)

Advisor – Dr. Abigail Harrison (Jamaica)

Regional Reps

Barbados (Dr. Michele Lashley, Barbados)

Cayman Islands (Dr. Cecily Abraham)

Jamaica (Dr. Leslie Gabay)

Leeward Islands (Dr. Ian Jacobs, St. Kitts & Nevis)

Windward Isles (Dr. Rosemary Boyle, St. Vincent & Grenadines)

Trinidad & Tobago (Dr. Rose Marie Thomas)

French W.I. (Dr. Serge Chalons, Martinique)

Extra-Regional Links

USA – Dr. Dave Clarke, St. Jude Hospital, University of Tennessee, Memphis

Canada – Dr. Melanie-Ann Kirby-Allen, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

UK – Dr. Joanne Fedee, New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, UK

Membership application forms and other relevant information can be obtained from Executive members