On 25 September 2002, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat received a Diplomatic Note dated 24 September 2002 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica informing that the Government of Jamaica had “indicated to the Government of the United States of America its intention to resume bilateral ‘Open Skies’ negotiation on suitable dates between 21 and 30 October 2002.”
With the Secretary-General on travel mission at the time of receipt of the communication, the matter was brought directly to the attention of the Assistant Secretary-General with responsibility for Aviation Matters who immediately established telephone contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade to seek clarification, in view of the Community’s longstanding decision to negotiate an “Open Skies” Agreement with the USA and Jamaica’s role in that process. The Secretariat official suggested that if there was now a date convenient to both the United States and Jamaica then Jamaica might consider proposing the widening of the negotiating meeting to cover CARICOM. It was agreed that consultation to this end would continue between the Ministry and the Secretariat.
While awaiting the outcome of these discussions with Jamaica, with a view to substantive proposals being made to all Member States, the matter was not brought to the attention of the Secretary-General nor forwarded to Member States.
Georgetown, Guyana
25 November 2002
