(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Twenty–Ninth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) opens in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday 1, July 2008, with an agenda replete with critical issues.
CARICOM Heads of Government will meet at the Jolly Beach Resort from 2-4 July following the opening ceremony on the evening of 1 July at the Sandals Grande Hotel. The ceremony will be broadcast live on television through the services of the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) and the Antigua Broadcasting Service (ABS).
The first day of the meeting is devoted solely to the largest contributor to the Region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – Tourism. At its Nineteenth Inter-Sessional Meeting, 7-8 March, 2008 in The Bahamas, the Conference of Heads of Government agreed that the first day of this Meeting would focus on matters related to Tourism. A Task Force, led by Senator the Hon. Allen Chastanet, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation of Saint Lucia and current Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) was established to prepare the issues for discussion.
Also high on the Meeting’s agenda is the issue of food security as the Leaders continue discussion on the Region’s response to rising food prices and agree on ways to mitigate its effect on the Community. Soaring energy prices and the challenge of adaptation to climate change will be in focus at the meeting.
Heads of Government will receive an update on the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), in particular the operational plans for the CARICOM Development Fund which is due to be launched at the meeting. The Fund is intended to provide financial or technical assistance to disadvantaged regions, countries and sectors.
With regards to External Trade Negotiations, the Leaders are expected to finalise arrangements for the imminent signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and the Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM).
Other important matters related to External Trade Negotiation include the treatment of Bananas in the European Union (EU) Market, and the CARICOM-Canada Trade and Development Agreement which is in its preparatory stage.
Among other issues on the Meeting’s agenda is Crime and Security including the implementation of decisions taken at the Thirteenth Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government held in Trinidad and Tobago on April 4-5, 2008.
The Heads of Government will receive an update on preparations for the staging of the tenth Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) which is slated for 22-31 August, 2008 in Guyana.
This Twenty–Ninth Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government Conference marks the 35th Anniversary of the establishment of the Caribbean Community, and the Leaders are expected to explore mechanisms for overcoming critical challenges in building the Community.
The Conference of Heads of Government is the supreme Organ of the Community, which provides policy direction and is empowered as the final authority.
