Caribbean Community (CARICOM)/United Kingdom relations will come under sharp focus when Heads of Government of the Community meet with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday, 29 July 2001, at Jamaica House in Kingston, Jamaica, to deliberate on hemispheric and other issues. The Special CARICOM/UK Summit comes at the request of Mr. Blair who will be in Jamaica on the first leg of a Western Hemispheric tour which includes visits to Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.

During the meeting, which will be led by the current Chairman of CARICOM, Mr. Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the leaders will discuss matters surrounding a new framework for CARICOM/UK relations in light of recent and ongoing changes in the international community, security issues, including combating drug-related and other crimes, assistance to regional police forces, and enhancement of the Region's justice system.

They will also deliberate on the OECD Harmful Tax Initiative, border issues, the deadly HIV/AIDS pandemic, and preparations leading up to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference scheduled for Doha, Qatar, in November.

Mr. Blair and the CARICOM Leaders are likely to address issues pointing to the next round of the African Caribbean and Pacific/European Union (ACP/EU) negotiations due to start in September 2002, as well as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit scheduled for Brisbane, Australia later this year.

CARICOM Secretary-General Mr. Edwin Carrington, will lead a delegation from the Georgetown-based CARICOM Secretariat to join the CARICOM team in Jamaica for the special CARICOM/UK Summit.