Performance of Jamaica's Female Athletes Hailed

Jamaican athletes Ms Shelly Ann Fraser and Ms Melanie Walker were commended by Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) H.E. Edwin Carrington for their performances at the Beijing Olympics.

In a message of congratulations to the athletes, the Secretary-General said it was with "great pride and pleasure that I extend to Ms Fraser and Ms Walker in particular and their compatriots for the fine example they have offered to Regional youth of world class excellence".

Dr. Baugh Leads Jamaican Delegation at UK/CARICOM Forum

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh is leading Jamaica's delegation at the 6th United Kingdom (UK)/Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Forum now underway in London.

The UK/Caribbean Ministerial Forum was first established in 1998 and is held every two years. UK Foreign Office Minister Meg Munn and Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, will co-chair the two days of discussions on a range of issues including climate change, security and justice, economic development, energy and food security, and education.

Dr. Baugh Highlights Importance of Positive CARICOM-EU Trade

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh has emphasized the importance of positive CARICOM-EU trade and investments to the region.

"As small and vulnerable states, CARICOM members recognise that they require a capacity for greater economic leverage and effectiveness in their external trade and economic relations with states and groups of states. In this regard, CARICOM-EU trade and investment relations are extremely important to the countries of CARICOM," he said.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE TWENTY-NINTH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM)
1-4 JULY 2008, BOLANS, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

The Twenty-Ninth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was held at Bolans, Antigua and Barbuda from 1-4 July 2008. The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Baldwin Spencer presided.

Other members of the Conference in attendance were: the Prime Minister of Barbados, Hon. David J. H. Thompson; the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit; the President of the Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo; the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Hon. Bruce Golding; the Chief Minister of Montserrat, Hon. Dr Lowell Lewis; the Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas; the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Hon. Stephenson King; the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves; the President of Suriname, His Excellency Drs. Runaldo R. Venetiaan; and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Hon. Patrick Manning.

Antigua's PM Spencer Wants Hassle Free Movement Between CARICOM States ...Jamaicans Told

Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer says his Government is committed to ensuring that the movement between Caricom nationals in the region becomes as hassle-free as possible, and that the immigration restrictions currently in place be minimised.

The Antiguan Prime Minister was addressing some two thousand Jamaicans living and working in Antigua and Barbuda, at a special meeting called last night (July 5) by the Jamaicans, to discuss issues of concern with their own Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding. Mr Golding led Jamaica's delegation to the just-concluded 29th regular meeting of the conference of heads of government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in St John's , Antigua from July 1-4.

CARICOM Group Proposes Team to Address Region's Debt Crisis...PM Golding Discloses

Caricom Heads of Government have proposed that the World Bank establish a team comprising representatives of the World Bank, the Caricom Secretariat, and the Caribbean Development Bank to come up with recommendations to address debt restructuring and the establishment of special windows for development financing for the region's heavily indebted middle income countries.

This was disclosed by Prime Minister Bruce Golding who said who said a team would work toward fleshing out the proposal. "We feel there is justification for us to seek debt restructuring in addition to special windows for development financing. We need to be able to get our productivity up to the level where we can generate economic growth. As a result of that, there is an agreement for a technical group to be established", Mr. Golding told reporters following yesterday's sitting of 29th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) now underway in St Johns, Antigua.

Jamaica Stands Firm with CARICOM

The Hon Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica, in an unequivocal statement on Tuesday (1 July 2008) to the Twenty-Ninth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government re-affirmed his country's commitment to CARICOM.

Prime Minister Golding who was attending his first Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government as a Head of Government told the Opening Ceremony held at the Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa that Jamaica remained firmly committed to CARICOM.

Address by the Hon. Bruce Golding Prime Minister of Jamaica at the CARICOM 29th Regular Conference of Heads of Government

We have gathered again, as we do so frequently, this time in the beautiful islands of Antigua and Barbuda, and we must thank the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda for receiving us as splendidly as they have done.

We have come together as leaders of the 15 member countries and 5 associate countries that make up this Community. And let me say this, in case there be any doubt that still lingers: JAMAICA REMAINS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO CARICOM!

Jamaica and CARICOM Partners to Negotiate Free Trade Agreement with Canada

Jamaica and its CARICOM partners are poised to commence negotiating a free trade agreement with Canada, which is the region's third largest trading partner.

Speaking in the 2008/09 Sectoral Debate in the House on June 25, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Dr. Ken Baugh informed that the negotiations with Canada have been in the pipeline since 2001 and, although Canada obtained a Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) waiver in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for CARIBCAN up to 2011, they have already indicated that they will not be renewing this waiver.

CARICOM Passport to be Introduced by December

A CARICOM passport is to be introduced by December this year, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh has said.

He said this would be done as a symbol of regionalism and visible proof of the region's common identity, and to promote hassle-free travel within member countries.

CARICOM Heads of Government to Meet with New York Governor, Mayor

Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), regional policymakers, representatives of the academic community, the private sector and financial institutions, as well as members of the Diaspora will meet in New York City later this month for the New York Conference on the Caribbean.

The New York Conference on the Caribbean under the theme `A 20/20 Vision Continued' on 19-20 June 2008, will include discussions on trade, investment and education, and high level meetings between Heads of Government and key officials including Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives; Mr. David Paterson, New York Governor; Mr. Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York; and Mr. Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President.

Dr Leslie Rammsammy Assumes Presidency of 61st World Health Assembly

The 61st World Health Assembly opened today (19 May 2008) at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland with the Hon. Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Minister of Health of Guyana assuming the Presidency of the premier international Health organization. The Guyana Minister of Health is the second Caribbean Community (CARICOM) appointee to this position in 30 years.

In his inaugural address to the Assembly, Dr. Ramsammy identified an array of health challenges facing the world, among which are climate change, food production and the high cost of living, the escalating rate of NCDs, the persistence of HIV/AIDS and the staggering rates of child mortality, injuries and violence especially violence against women. He also highlighted the negative effects of migration on the human resource capabilities of health services in the developing countries.

Preparations Stepped Up for Agricultural Business Forum

With food prices soaring in the Caribbean and around the globe and its annual food bill expected to climb this year, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is taking a proactive approach to the issue by hosting an international investment Forum in Guyana early next month tailored specifically to attracting investment for its agriculture sector.

The two-day Regional Agriculture Investment Forum commencing on June 6th, will provide an un-paralleled and unprecedented opportunity for governments, farmers, entrepreneurs and investment bankers to meet in one place and discuss issues ranging from the setting up of mega farms, using the vast tracts of uncultivated land in the Caribbean, to the need for technological improvements to in the agriculture sector to making the Caribbean a net exporter and user of food produced in the Region.

CARICOM Leaders Attend EU-LAC Summit

Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) the Rt Honourable Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister of The Bahamas will be among four CARICOM Heads of Government attending the Fifth European Union-Latin American and Caribbean (EULAC) Summit which will be held in Lima, Peru on 16-17 May, 2008.

Other Heads of Government expected to attend are the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Honourable Baldwin Spencer, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Honourable Bruce Golding and the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago the Honourable Patrick Manning. The Vice President of Suriname, His Excellency Ramdien Sardjoe will represent his country.

SG Pays Official Visits to Argentina and Brazil

Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), His Excellency Edwin Carrington is in Peru on the first stop of a three-nation visit to South America.

The Secretary-General is in Peru to participate in the Fifth Summit of the European Union and Latin American and Caribbean countries (EU-LAC) which takes place on 16-17 May 2008. As part of that process, there will also be a summit between the Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (CARIFORUM) and the EU. Mr. Carrington is also Secretary-General of CARIFORUM which consists of the 14 independent CARICOM Member States and the Dominican Republic.

Jamaica to Chair CARICOM Agriculture Ministers Meeting

Jamaica is scheduled to chair a meeting of the regional Ministers of Agriculture on May 20 in Guyana, which will discuss, as a key issue the critical matter of regional food security.

Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Tufton who will be representing Jamaica, made this disclosure as he addressed a rural farmers meeting at the Guys Hill Catholic Church on Thursday (May 8).

Ministerial Statement on Bananas

Trade Ministers of the Caribbean Community, meeting at the Twenty-Sixth Special Meeting for the Council of Trade and Economic Development in Antigua and Barbuda on 10 May 2008, examined various issues relating to the Region’s banana industry, in particular, matters affecting the level of preferential access to the European market -- preferences that have been instrumental in raising thousands of small farmers out of poverty while enabling them to achieve commendable levels of social and environmental responsibility.

Ministers noted with appreciation the Joint Statement emanating from a meeting of Ministers of Agriculture and representatives of Cameroon, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Greece, Cote d’Ivoire, Jamaica, Madagascar, Portugal, Spain and Suriname held in Paris on 30 April 2008, which upheld the importance of maintaining a stable banana market in the European Union (EU), catering in a balanced way to the interests of all those who participate in it.

CARICOM Trade Ministers Call For Strong Development Component in CARICOM-Canada Negotiations

Ministers of Trade of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have reiterated the need for a strong development component, and a structure that caters for political involvement in the upcoming negotiations with Canada.

CARICOM and Canada are soon to begin negotiations for a Trade and Development Agreement and, to this end, a Technical Working Group is to meet shortly to finalise the Region's Negotiating Brief which will be presented for approval at a Special COTED prior to the first negotiating session with Canada which should take place before the end of July.

EPA to be Signed in July

The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Commission (EC) and the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) is to be signed in July 2008.

At the Twenty-Sixth Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) which wrapped up in Antigua and Barbuda on Saturday 10 May 2008, Ministers considered possible dates for signing and the provisional application of the Agreement and reported they were in consultations with the EC on the subject.

Jamaica, Guyana to Hold Rice Talks

Jamaica and Guyana are to hold discussions at the highest level to find a solution to the current rice impasse.

The rice issue was raised at the just-concluded Twenty-Sixth Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in Antigua and Barbuda, where discussions were held on Jamaica's need for a stock of rice due to an emergency situation, and Guyana's ability to supply the commodity.

Communique Issued at the Eleventh Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR)
Bolans Village, Antigua and Barbuda
7-9 May 2008

The Eleventh Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) of the Caribbean Community was held in Bolans Village, Antigua and Barbuda, 7-9 May 2008, under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda.

The Ministers attending were, the Hon. T. Brent Symonette, M.P, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas; the Hon. Donville Inniss, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and International Business, Barbados; the Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Belize; the Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Dominica; the Hon. Carolyn Rodrigues, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guyana; Senator Dr. the Hon. Ronald Robinson, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica; Her Excellency Lygia L.L. Kraag-Keteldijk, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Suriname; and the Hon. Paula Gopee-Scoon, M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago.

Guyana Expects Record Participation for CARIFESTA X

The tenth staging of the Caribbean Festival of the Arts (CARIFESTA X) is set to attract record participation from Caribbean Latin American, North American and European countries according to Guyana's Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Hon. Dr Frank Anthony.

In the first of a series of press briefings on CARIFESTA X started on Friday (9 May 2008), Dr Anthony told the Guyana Media that approximately 1300 of the expected 2000 delegates had already confirmed their participation in the Caribbean's premier cultural event to be staged in Guyana on 22-31 August, 2008.

Caribbean Receives US$ 2.25M Grant from European Commission to Support Renewable Energy

The Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (CARIFORUM) and the European Commission, recently signed a Financing Agreement totalling US$ 2.45 million to support the Caribbean Region in the Sustainable Management of its Energy Resources. As part of this total, CARICOM is contributing US$ 200,000. The signing took place at the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.

The purpose of the project is to increase the contribution from renewable energy sources to the overall energy consumption of CARIFORUM countries, thereby placing the Community on track towards a cleaner, more secure and more competitive energy future, while also making a contribution to the global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.

SG Challenges COFCOR to Respond to Global Shifts

The crafting of the Caribbean Community's response to the rapidly changing international and hemispheric environment and acknowledgement of the shifting priorities of CARICOM's traditional partners, are among the issues regional Ministers of Foreign Affairs must tackle during the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) Meeting now underway in Antigua and Barbuda.

Delivering opening remarks at the 11tn COFCOR Meeting on 8 May 2008, CARICOM Secretary-General H.E. Edwin Carrington referred to the changing global environment and said Ministers would be called upon to determine how the Region responded to accompanying challenges, what new initiatives the Region could mount and what mechanisms it needed to put in place to attain the Community's objectives.

Remarks by His Excellency Edwin. W. Carrington, Secretary-General, at the Eleventh Meeting of the COFCOR

Her Excellency Dame Louise Lake-Tack, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman of COFCOR, the Honourable Baldwin Spencer

Honourable Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Attorney-General of Belize and Outgoing Chariman of COFCOR

Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Dominica

Regional ICT Steering Committee meets to consider Draft ICT4D Strategy

Member States of the Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM), Regional and international organisations, representatives of private sector and civil society, as well as CARICOM Secretariat staff will meet in Guyana next week under the umbrella of the Regional Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Steering Committee.

Delegates attending the May 14 2008 meeting in Georgetown, Guyana will among other matters review the draft framework of the Regional ICT for Development (ICT4D) Strategy. At the end of the meeting it is expected that the group would have crafted a two-year Action Plan (2008 - 2010) to guide the development of the CARICOM Information Society Strategy. The Draft Framework and Action plan will be presented to ICT Ministers at their meeting scheduled for June 12-13, 2008.

Three CARICOM Ministerial Meetings This Week

Three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministerial Councils will meet this week as the Community intensifies its preparations for the 29th Regular Meeting of the Heads of Government to be held in Antigua and Barbuda in July.

The Eleventh Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) and the Twenty-Sixth Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Trade will be convened in Antigua and Barbuda, while the Tenth Meeting of the Legal Affairs Committee (LAC) will be held in Saint Lucia.

High Level G77 Panel Prepares for UN Meeting

The two-day meeting of the G77 High Level Panel of Eminent Personalities on a Development Platform for the South which took place in Antigua and Barbuda ended on Wednesday 30 April, 2008, with a comprehensive discussion on South-South co-operation.

In the closing remarks, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Honourable Baldwin Spencer, Chairman of the G77, stressed the importance of the work of the Panel to the future development of the G77 which comprises of 130 member countries and China. These remarks were complemented by those of the Most Honourable Percival Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica and a former chairman of the G77, who, in addition to the many issues discussed over the two days, including the role of the private sector, emphasised that the G77 should be people-oriented and not exclusive and elitist, and must include the concerns of the workers and their representative institutions such as the trade unions if it were to serve satisfactorily the needs of the people.

We are Ready to Host You - Minister Frank Anthony

"Come to CARIFESTA; we are ready to host you; are you ready to come?"

This is the firm and positive message delivered to the Caribbean Region by the Honourable Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Guyana, as he addressed the Opening Session of the Nineteenth Meeting of the Regional Culture Committee this morning (23 April 2008) at the Grand Coastal Inn, East Coast Demerara, Guyana.

Dr Anthony welcomed the delegates to Guyana and assured the Meeting that the Government was working assiduously to introduce more than one-hundred events over ten days for the tenth staging of the Caribbean Festival of the Arts (CARIFESTA X).

CARICOM Secretary-General Hails Work Of Caribbean Professionals

At the opening of the Twenty-Fifth Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on the environment, the Secretary-General congratulated the team of technical persons - Drs. Ulric Trotz, Anthony Chen, John Agard, and Leonard Nurse “who worked tirelessly on the Inter-Governmental Panel for Climate Change and who have been duly recognized for their contribution to this process with the award of a Nobel Peace Prize. “

COHSOD Committed to Building a Region Fit for Children

The Georgetown Declaration seeks to ensure the right of every Caribbean child to survival, development, protection, dignity and participation within the Caribbean Community. It also seeks to commit Member States to actionable tenets which speak to improvement in the quality of and access to Early Childhood care and protection; legislative reforms and protective systems for children and adolescents.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE NINETEENTH INTER-SESSIONAL MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY
7-8 MARCH 2008, NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS

Other members of the Conference in attendance were: the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Honourable Baldwin Spencer; the Prime Minister of Barbados, Honourable David J. H. Thompson; the Prime Minister of Belize, Honourable Dean Barrow; the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit; the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell; the President of the Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo; the Prime Minister of Haiti, Honourable Jacques Edouard Alexis; the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Honourable Bruce Golding; the Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Honourable Dr. Denzil L. Douglas; the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Honourable Stephenson King; the President of Suriname, His Excellency Drs. Runaldo R. Venetiaan; and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Honourable Patrick Manning.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding for Caricom Inter-Sessional Conference in the Bahamas - March 7-8

Prime Minister Bruce Golding will lead a team of government officials to the 19th Inter-sessional meeting of The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) scheduled for 7-8 March 2008, in Nassau, Bahamas.

The team will comprise Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Kenneth Baugh, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Karl Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance, Senator Dwight Nelson and other senior government officials from these Ministries.

The Bahamas PM takes Over as CARICOM Chairman

Bahamas is the new Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) from 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2008.

Prime Minister Ingraham takes over from the Prime Minister of Barbados the Rt Honourable Owen Arthur who served as Chairman from 1 July 2007 to 31 December 2007. Prime Ministers Ingraham and Arthur will continue serving on the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government along with the incoming Chairman, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Honourable Baldwin Spencer and the Secretary-General of CARICOM, His Excellency Edwin Carrington. Prime Minister Spencer replaces the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves who served on the Bureau from 1 July 2006 to 30 December 2007.