CARICOM Heads of Government will have an exchange of views with special guest, the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet at this Thirty-seventh Regular Meeting, 4 – 6 July in Georgetown, Guyana.

 Chile has been a longstanding partner of the Caribbean Community as a block, and to individual Member States, and both President Bachelet and her predecessor have worked closely with CARICOM to strengthen areas of common interest.  The Government of Chile invited CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque for an official visit two years ago which added renewed focus to areas of cooperation including disaster related matters, relations between CARICOM and Chilean universities, training and capacity building.

Chile is also a strong voice on important issues of concern to CARICOM, not only in this hemisphere but also in other international fora.  Heads are expected to use the presence of President Bachelet to discuss a number of hemispheric and international issues.