– CARICOM Secretary-General
SECRETARY-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Mr. Edwin Carrington has extended congratulations to the government and the people of Chile on the successful rescue operation of the thirty-three Chilean miners last Wednesday near the Chilean city of Copiapo. The miners were trapped in an underground mine since early August 2010.

In a message, on behalf of the Community, sent to the Embassy of Chile last week, the Secretary-General said that the government and the people of Chile “must be commended for their vision, determination and decisive action resulting in a well-executed rescue operation.”

He said “atmosphere of euphoria, patriotism and optimism which erupted at ‘Camp Hope’ as the miners were hoisted, one by one, to freedom was indeed reflective of the unity and resilience of the people of Chile – factors which undoubtedly enabled your country to overcome this disaster. The achievement, Secretary-General Carrington said, was “a model of hope and encouragement to the world.”

The full text of the message reads:
It is with great pleasure that, on behalf of the Caribbean Community, I join with the international community in congratulating the Government and People of Chile on the successful rescue operation involving the thirty-three Chilean miners trapped in an underground mine since early August 2010.
On Wednesday, October 13, the world watched with bated breath as the emotional rescue operation began and as the tense moments gave way to joyous celebration. The atmosphere of euphoria, patriotism and optimism which erupted at ‘Camp Hope’ as the miners were hoisted, one by one, to freedom was indeed reflective of the unity and resilience of the People of Chile – factors which undoubtedly enabled your country to overcome this disaster. Your achievement has been a model of hope and encouragement to the world.
The Government and People of Chile must be commended for their vision, determination and decisive action resulting in a well-executed rescue operation.
Please accept, Excellency, on behalf of the Governments and People of the Caribbean Community, our best wishes for the future of the rescued miners, their families and the Government and People of Chile.