I have today announced the appointment of Mr Winfred Peppinck as High Commissioner for Australia to Barbados, resident in Bridgetown, with concurrent accreditation to 11 other Caribbean countries. Mr Peppinck will replace Mr Paul Smith who has been High Commissioner since March 1998. Australia s main focus in the Caribbean is the Commonwealth. Eleven of Bridgetown s accreditations are Commonwealth members with whom we share cultural, historical, legal, political and sporting links. This relationship, forged by shared history, continues to play an important role in Australia s foreign policy.
Cricket also remains an enduring link.
Testimony to the vitality of our Commonwealth-based links with the Caribbean is the active role played by Australian Legal Resources International in supplying judges to assist in a number of Caribbean countries. This would not be possible without our shared legal history which has produced legal systems among which judges can move freely. Australia has important multilateral interests in the Caribbean and we have similar views on many multilateral issues. Mr Peppinck will be responsible for Australia s relations with the International Seabed Authority in Kingston and will lead Australia s delegation to meetings of the Authority. The Australian High Commission in Bridgetown has put considerable effort into supporting Australian exporters and opportunities will improve as the region responds to the challenges of trade liberalisation.