(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Final preparations for Twentieth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Caribbean Community Head of Government will be in focus at the Twenty-Third Meeting of the Community Council of Ministers, scheduled for Georgetown, Guyana on February 2, 2009.

The second highest body in CARICOM also referred to as “The Council”, will examine arrangements for the Inter-Sessional Meeting to be held in Belize, from March 12-13, 2009.

At the upcoming meeting in Georgetown, the Council will consider the work programme and budget of the CARICOM Secretariat. Consideration will also be given to the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2013, as The Council seeks to rationalise the priorities of the principal administrative organ of the Community for the next three years.

Further, it will receive a draft report of the Second Consultative Meeting on Technical Co-operation which was held on December 10, 2008 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The Community Council replaced the Common Market Council as the second highest Organ in CARICOM. It has primary responsibility for the development of Community strategic planning and co-ordination in the areas of economic integration, functional co-operation and external relations.

The Council consists of Ministers responsible for Community Affairs and any other Minister designated by CARICOM Member States.