(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Climate Change and Energy issues are among the items on the agenda of the Second Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Integration System of Central America (SICA) who meet in Belize on Saturday 12 May 2007.
The one-day meeting will be preceded on the afternoon of 11 May by a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of CARICOM and Central America also in Belize. The CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) has been meeting in Belize from 10 May.
The leaders, who first met in 2002 also in Belize, will discuss strengthening relations between CARICOM and Central America with discussions towards the launching of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement being a key element in that regard. Inter-Regional Air and Maritime Transportation will also be in focus within the context of strengthening relations.
With both regions vulnerable to natural disasters, the leaders will discuss ways of collaboration to mitigate the effects of the impact of natural disasters. The wider issue of Climate Change is also down for discussion and the Heads of State and Government will explore areas where both regions could support the same issues in international fora related to climate change.
Energy issues will also be discussed by the leaders who will issue a declaration at the end of their meeting.
On the day preceding the Summit, the Foreign Ministers of the Region will have a full agenda including preparatory discussions for the meeting of the leaders.
The Foreign Ministers will review the status of the CARICOM-SICA Plan of Action which was signed in Belize last 22 February by the Secretaries-General of CARICOM and SICA, His Excellency Edwin Carrington and Anibal Quinonez respectively. That Plan of Action provides the framework for co-operation in a number of areas including human resource development, health, poverty eradication, trade and investment, crime and security and culture.
Security issues including co-ordinated action against organised crime, human trafficking and the problem of deportation will be discussed by the Foreign Ministers
