The Fourteenth Meeting of the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will be convened on a historic note later this week when the four-member body meets for the first time in an Associate Member State, the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The two-day meeting which begins on 10 January 2002, will address critical issues pertaining to the regional integration movement outside of its Member States, specifically highlighting the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), while, at the same time, advancing preparations for Haiti’s accession to full membership of the Community, and Bermuda and the Cayman Islands as Associate Members of the regional grouping.
The Bureau which will be chaired by the serving CARICOM Chairman, Belize Prime Minister, the Hon. Said Musa, will also look at preparations for the Thirteenth Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government slated for Belize from 4-6 February 2002.
The Bureau is also expected to examine a report on the review of the structure and functioning of CARICOM Secretariat, as well as discuss matters pertaining to the Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM).
Prime Minister Musa will be joined in the deliberations by outgoing Chairman, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, and Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Rudy Insanally, who will represent President Bharrat Jagdeo who is next in line to serve in the Chairmanship of the Regional body in July, 2002. Secretary-General of CARICOM, Mr. Edwin Carrington is the fourth member of the Bureau in his capacity of Chief Executive Officer.
The Bureau of the Conference came into operation in December 1992, following a decision taken at a Special Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in October 1992.
The responsibility of the Bureau is to initiate proposals, update consensus and mobilise and secure implementation of CARICOM decisions in an expeditious and informed manner.2002
