We, the Heads of Government of CARICOM, are profoundly distressed by the escalating and appalling situation in Gaza, now an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. We express grave concern over the immense, unabated suffering and tragic loss of civilian lives, particularly women and children.

The Prime Minister of Spain hosted the Second CARICOM - Spain Summit on 16 May 2002 in Madrid, Spain. In attendance on the Caribbean side were the Presidents of Guyana and Haiti, the Prime Ministers of Barbados, Belize and Jamaica, the Vice President of Suriname and representatives from The Bahamas, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago and the CARICOM Secretary-General.