Prime Minister Represents Jamaica at CARICOM Meeting
By: July 1, 2015 ,The Key Point:
The Facts
- The meeting will consider several matters related to encouraging economic growth and development in member countries of the Community.
- A major item on the agenda of the meeting is participation by CARICOM member countries in several ongoing international processes related to sustainable development.
The Full Story
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller is leading Jamaica’s delegation to the 36th Regular Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, which takes place in Barbados from tomorrow, Thursday, July 2 to Saturday, July 4. The meeting will consider several matters related to encouraging economic growth and development in member countries of the Community. A major item on the agenda of the meeting is participation by CARICOM member countries in several ongoing international processes related to sustainable development, development financing and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
In this context, CARICOM Heads of Government will hold discussions with the Secretary General of the United Nations His Excellency Ban Ki Moon, who will be a special guest at the meeting in Barbados. The UN Secretary-General is slated to make a presentation during a High Level Dialogue titled, “CARICOM: Vibrant Societies, Resilient Economies – A Partnership for Implementation.”
Another special guest at the 36th Regular Meeting will be the President of Panama, His Excellency Juan Carlos Varela Rodriquez. It is expected that he will discuss with the CARICOM Heads of Government economic issues of concern to Panama and CARICOM states. At the meeting, the University of the West Indies will also make a presentation on “The Push for Economic Growth in the Region”.
Outgoing Secretary General of the Commonwealth, His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma will also hold talks with the CARICOM Heads.
Other agenda items for the meeting include Strengthening and Utilizing Science and Technology in the Region, Proposals for the Establishment of a new Regional Institution – the CARICOM Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Leveraging CARICOM’s Human, Cultural and Natural Assets for Economic Development of the Community, and Relations with the Dominican Republic.
Prime Minister Simpson Miller is travelling to Barbados today, Wednesday, July 1 and will return to Jamaica on Sunday, July 5. Other members of Jamaica’s delegation to the CARICOM meeting include Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Hon. AJ Nicholson; and Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Ms. Onika Miller. While the Prime Minister is representing Jamaica in Barbados, the Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill will be in charge of the Government.