(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Education, external trade, the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the impact of the global economic crisis on the region, will be among the areas of discussion when the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) convenes three key meetings over the next week.

Monday 17 November 2008, the Seventeenth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) will be held at the Guyana International Convention Centre under the theme, 'Accelerating the implementation of the education agenda'.

The two-day COHSOD meeting will focus on several issues including functional cooperation in education; the development of cultural industries and its implications for the education sector; the Implications of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) for education and importantly, an assessment of the achievements and implementation gaps in the regional education agenda.

On 20 and 21 November, there will be a meeting of officials of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) followed by the Ministerial Meeting on 24 and 25 November 2008.

The packed COTED agenda includes deliberations on the CSME, particularly with regard to progress with the CARICOM Development Fund, the Competition Commission and the Free Movement of Skills.

On Saturday 22 November 2008, the Twenty-Fourth Meeting of the Bureau of the Heads of Government will be held in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. The Bureau will discuss the progamme of the Heads of Government up to April next year, matters relating to external trade negotiations including the implementation of the EPA and the global economic and financial situation

At the Bureau Meeting, the Heads will also exchange views on the impact of the new political situation in the United States following the election of a new president.