(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Crime and Security will be the major item considered by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) when they meet in Port-au-Prince, Haiti for their 24th Intersessional Meeting on 18-19 February.
As part of their discussion to strengthen the Regional Crime and Security Agenda and Architecture, the Attorney General of the United States Mr Eric Holder will participate in the exchanges. The discussions will be taking place against a backdrop of high levels of crime in many of the Member States with the use of firearms being of particular concern.
At least nine Heads of Government will join CARICOM Chair His Excellency Michel Martelly, the President of Haiti at the Karibe Hotel and Convention Centre for the meeting. All 15 Member States and three of the five Associate Members will be represented.
The leaders will also be looking at reform in the Community with emphasis on the progress towards the development of a Strategic Plan for the Community and the Change Process being undertaken at the CARICOM Secretariat. Financial stability and the latest situation with respect to resolving obligations arising out of the collapse of Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) and the British American Insurance Company (BAICO) will be considered.
Matters related to transportation in the Region are also on the agenda as is the question of movement of persons within the Community and improving food safety.
The leaders will receive an update on the Region’s preparations for the implementation of the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) which has implications for the Community’s financial sector in particular. They will also get the latest information on the plans by Suriname to host the 11th edition of the Caribbean Festival of the Arts (CARIFESTA XI) from 16-25 August.
