PM to attend Latin American and Caribbean Summit (CALC) in Venezuela Dec 2-3

Prime Minister Andrew Holness left the island this morning (Dec 2) to attend the two-day Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Integration and Development (CALC) in Caracas, Venezuela from December 2 – 3.

The meeting will also be immediately followed by the Petrocaribe summit on December 3.   Accompanying PM Holness are Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Ken Baugh and Minister of Mining and Energy, Clive Mullings.

Among the issues to be addressed by the regional heads are security, food sovereignty, human rights, democracy, sustaining the natural environment and energy issues.

The meeting will also allow the heads to address issues around advancing the full activation of the regional group – Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) which is being formed from the merger of CALC and the Rio Group.

Jamaica recognises the important role that CELAC will play in strengthening the voice of the region in the global sphere and represents CARICOM on the steering committees of both the CALC and Rio Group. Jamaica has been playing a leading role in the integration and development process having hosted the ministerial meetings of the CALC and Rio group in Montego Bay in November 2009.

The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles will be responsible for the government until Mr. Holness returns to the island.