Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community Ambassador Irwin LaRocque briefed recently elected Prime Minister of Jamaica Most Honourable Andrew Holness on current issues engaging the attention of the Community.

The discussions took place on Tuesday at the start of a two day visit to Jamaica during which the Secretary-General also met with the Leader of the Opposition Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). Ambassador LaRocque and the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors of Jamaica explored ways of spreading knowledge of the Community and the issues engaging its attention among the country’s youth.

Reform of the Community including the Secretariat, challenges with correspondent banks, cricket and free movement of CARICOM nationals were among matters discussed by the Prime Minister and the Secretary-General. Ambassador LaRocque welcomed the dialogue between the governments of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago aimed at arriving at a solution with respect to border entry problems being experienced by Jamaicans at Trinidad and Tobago ports of entry.

Ms Simpson Miller also addressed the issue with the Secretary-General during their session and agreed that dialogue was necessary to improve the situation.

In a lively session with the PSOJ, Secretary-General LaRocque emphasised the advantage that Jamaica possessed in the area of services. The PSOJ team led by President William Mahfood laid out their concerns with respect to trade within the Single Market and the denial of entry to Jamaicans at the ports of other Member States. There was agreement on the need for more sensitisation of border officials and more targeted public education efforts with respect to the operations of the Single Market and the rights and obligations provided for under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Accompanying the Secretary-General were Director General of CARICOM’s Office of Trade Negotiations, Ambassador Gail Mathurin and CARICOM Assistant Secretary General Trade and Economic Integration, Mr Joseph Cox. The team left Jamaica on Thursday.