PM Simpson Miller to Attend CARICOM 25th Inter-Sessional Meeting

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller leaves the island today (Saturday 8^th March) for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where she will attend the Twenty Fifth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM. The meeting will be held from 9^th – 11^th March.

The Prime Minister in her capacity as Chairman of the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on External Negotiations will provide an update on External Trade Issues, in particular the ongoing negotiations for a CARICOM-Canada Trade and Development Agreement. The meeting will also focus on the economic situation facing member states and the region, the CARICOM Reform Process towards the establishment of a five year strategic plan for growth and development in the region, as well as issues of climate change, citizenship, security, reparations for native genocides and slavery and the use of marijuana for medical or health purposes.  The CARICOM Heads are also expected to receive a report on the implication for decision making of the Shanique Myrie ruling.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by Senator the Hon. A.J. Nicholson, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Miss Onika Miller, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister; Her Excellency Sharon Saunders, Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Trinidad & Tobago along with other technical, support, security and communications staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Jamaica Information Service.

Prime Minister Simpson Miller will return to the island on Wednesday 12^th March 2014. While the Prime Minister is away on official business, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davis, Minister of Housing, Transport and Works will be in charge of the Government.