Ministers of the Caribbean Community's second highest organ - The Community Council, will tomorrow begin a two-day meeting at the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.
Ministers will consider the draft Rules of Procedure for the Community Council, and are expected to adopt the final rules which will guide the Council in its future deliberations.
The leaders discussed a number of regional, hemispheric and international issues. Particular attention was paid to the imminent Second Summit of the Americas due to be held in Santiago, Chile on the weekend, April 18-19, 1998.
Noting the equal relevance of both the economic and non-economic issues to be addressed in Santiago, prominence was given to the proposal expected to be adopted at the Summit to launch the negotiations towards the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Americas by the year 2005.
Suriname has become the latest Member State of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to accredit an Ambassador to the Community.
The Ninth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was held in St. George's, Grenada, from 2 to 3 March 1998.
Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Grenada's Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Keith Mitchell has stated that the visit by four regional Heads of Government is a demonstration of the Region's "absolute commitment" to the reconciliatory process in Guyana following the tension after the December 15, 1997 General Elections.
CARICOM Secretary General Mr. Edwin Carrington has announced that Suriname will soon become a member of the CARICOM-Canada Joint Trade and Economic Committee (JTEC). Mr Carrington was speaking on Thursday 19 February 1998 at the opening of the Ninth JTEC meeting in Georgetown Guyana at the CARICOM headquarters. Suriname which became a member of CARICOM in 1995 is expected shortly to take the final steps to complete its membership in JTEC.
Science and technology will take centre stage next month when Grenada hosts the Ninth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman and Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell has expressed outrage over the planned shipment of nuclear waste through the Caribbean Sea.
The CARICOM Secretariat was advised by the British High Commission in Guyana that the shipment involves High Level Nuclear Waste and is expected to be transported from France to Japan via the Caribbean Sea, the Panama Canal and the Pacific Ocean.
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, Mr Edwin Carrington has spoken out in favour of CARICOM's continued support to the healing process in Guyana.
On the conclusion of a one-day visit by the Chairman of CARICOM, Dr. the Hon. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, the Secretary-General said the last thing anyone wanted to see happen in Guyana was a breakdown of the society as has been experienced in certain other countries.
I have already conveyed to the leaders of all the parties contesting the elections in Guyana, the congratulations of the Caribbean Community colleagues that they have, with considerable statesmanship, taken a major step in turning aside from rising conflict towards a resolution of current problems by inquiry and dialogue.