Four days of conference, Crime, security high on agenda
Published:Sunday | July 4, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
WITH JAMAICA yet to fully settle down from the hurricane-like impact of the hunt for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, the country again finds itself in the spotlight of the region as it hosts the 31st Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government Conference in Montego Bay, St James.
Leaders of at least 11 of the 15-member countries of the 37-year-old regional body have either already arrived or will arrive today for the summit which ends on Wednesday.
They will be joined by United Nation's (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon; International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn; and Organisation of America States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza.
The UN, IMF and OAS heads will discuss with CARICOM leaders a range of issues, including the international financial system and its impact on CARICOM states, the Millennium Development Goals, climate change, crime and security.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who will assume chairmanship of CARICOM, is expected to brief his colleagues on the outcome of the G8 Summit in Canada which he attended recently.
Golding, who has responsibility for CARICOM's external economic relations, will also be expected to provide an update on the G-20 Summit which was also held in Canada.
Finalising the Summit's agenda
Yesterday, the 26th meeting of the Community Council was held at the Rose Hall Resort and Spa to finalise the summit's agenda and discuss matters pertaining to the CARICOM Secretariat's Strategic Plan for 2009-2015.
The council also considered other matters within four sectoral clusters, namely: legal affairs, human and social development, foreign and community relations, and trade and economic development.
Today, the Prime Ministerial Subcommittee on external trade negotiations is expected to meet before the official opening ceremony with the status of the negotiations of the CARICOM-Canada Trade and Development Agreement at the top of its agenda.
Exploratory talks between senior trade officials of CARICOM and Canada began formally in November 2009, with the region putting forward its interest in a strong development component as a distinct chapter of the agreement.
The second round of negotiations was held late March in Barbados.
The Prime Ministerial Subcommittee meeting will also consider matters related to the implementation of the European Community Economic Partnership Agreement signed in October 2008, and the World Trade Organisation Doha Round.
The committee members are also expected to exchange views on the implications of CARICOM's continued participation in free trade negotiations in the current economic crisis.
Haiti's President Rene Preval was slated to be the chairman of CARICOM, but because of the earthquake which devastated that country in January he declined and the heads of government decided that Jamaica should assume the chair.
Golding will be among the speakers for the opening ceremony scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., at the Half Moon Hotel.