CARICOM advances crises agenda

CARICOM is to advise the G-20 leaders, of its concerns regarding the impact of the global crises on the region, before their London summit next month.



The G-20, or Group of 20, includes the world’s most powerful countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, Japan, France, and Canada.



Prime Minister Golding says CARICOM will launch a serious lobby against what he calls the hostile stance the US has adopted towards offshore financial centres.



According to Mr Golding, this will hurt a number of Caribbean countries, like The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, St Lucia and Grenada.



He says it could also have serious consequences for Jamaica, which plans to establish an international financial centre.



The US has warned that it will be targeting offshore financial centre, which try to evade taxes.



CARICOM would be taking its case to a meeting being convened by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, in New York in the first week of June, he added.



The Prime Minister was speaking last night on his arrival from a five-day trip abroad.



He attended the 20th Inter-Sessional Meeting of CARICOM’s Heads of Government in Belize on Thursday and Friday before going to Florida.



While in Florida, the Prime Minister met with Jamaicans, and the Tavistock Group, which is investing US$2 billion in the Harmony Cove Resort in Trelawny.