Region's leaders head to South Africa

BRIDGETOWN (CMC):

Several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders departed the region yesterday for South Africa to attend the funeral of the country's first black president and anti-apartheid icon, Nelson Mandela.

CARICOM chairman and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad Bissessar, as well as her Jamaican counterpart, Portia Simpson Miller, are expected in Johannesburg in time for the funeral.

President Donald Ramotar of Guyana and Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie are also attending the meeting.

A Bahamas government statement said that the delegation would first travel to Trinidad where it would "join other CARICOM heads of government for the direct flight to Johannesburg via private charter courtesy of the government of Trinidad and Tobago".

The statement said that Nassau had played a prominent role in the release of Mandela after 27 years in jail for his fight to overthrow the apartheid system.