Georgetown/Prensa Latina
Most of the 20 leaders of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) have already arrived in the capital of Guyana to attend the XLVI Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the organization, which begins on Sunday.
This city activated its routines and became more alive with the presence of the leaders, who will debate until Wednesday crucial aspects for the country and for this region of 16 million indigenous, African, Indian, European, Chinese, Portuguese and Javanese citizens.
Heads of government arriving as late as noon to attend the opening of the conclave at 5:00 p.m. (local time) include the President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi; and the Prime Ministers of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves; and Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne.
Also already in Guyana are the Heads of Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Drew; Trinidad and Tobago, Keith Rowley; Granada, Dickon Mitchell; Montserrat, Easton Taylor-Farrell; Barbados, Mia Mottley; and Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit.
Antiguan President Browne stated before his arrival that the four-day meeting will discuss key issues such as the serious humanitarian and security situation in Haiti and plans for the T/20 Cricket World Cup, an event that the region will host in June.
The authority of Antigua and Barbuda added that regional leaders will also discuss the border issue between Guyana and Venezuela, along with the demarcation claim between Belize and Guatemala.
The dialogues – Browne added – include conversations with the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, special guest at the meeting; and the leader of the Inter-American Development Bank, Ilan Goldfajn.
The agenda also includes exchanges with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir; and with the Minister of State for International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, Reem al Hashimy. Other topics on the agenda are climate change and the finances to confront it; a Report of the Prime Minister’s Reparations Subcommittee; and the update on the situation in the British Virgin Islands.
The sessions will also address points such as the status of the Caribbean Court of Justice Trust Fund; Developments in the Middle East, including Israelis on Gaza; and the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, which will take place in May in Antigua and Barbuda.
The meeting, which begins this Sunday at 5:00 p.m. (local time), will be held from February 25 to 28 and will be led by the president of Caricom and also of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, who will deliver the keynote address at the ceremony. opening.
The Caribbean bloc is made up of 20 countries, 15 of them as effective members and five under the category of associates.
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