PM At Brazil-CARICOM Summit

Jamaica’s Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, was among 10 CARICOM Heads of Government who attended the first Brazil-CARICOM Summit in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, on Monday (April 26).
The other Caribbean Heads in Brasilia are the leaders of; Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, Haiti, Suriname, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana and St. Lucia.
Organization of American States (OAS) Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, is also participating in the Summit, which is being hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The OAS reported as follows on Monday’s proceedings:
This historic encounter took place within the context of strengthening Brazil-Caribbean cooperation, and led to the signing of some sixty agreements between Brazil and the Caribbean Community in the areas of trade, agriculture, science and technology.
“I welcome this level of South-South cooperation which I believe is an important step in strengthening relations between the countries of the Western Hemisphere” Mr. Ramdin said.
The Assistant Secretary General also expressed satisfaction with “the open and frank debate on issues of significance to the hemisphere, in particular, the small economies of the Caribbean Community.”
“This high-level consultation and the technical cooperation agreements will inevitably contribute to stronger relations between Brazil and its Caribbean neighbors, and enhance multilateralism throughout the Americas,” said the OAS diplomat.