Mr. Richard Wilkinson, The Director for the Americas of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the United Kingdom, and H.E. Mr. Richard Glover, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom to Guyana, on 25 April, 2001 paid a courtesy call on Deputy Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Dr. Carla Barnett.

During the visit, the officials discussed the role and functions of the CARICOM Secretariat in the Community, the recently concluded meeting of the Third Summit of the Americas held in Quebec, Canada, particularly the decision to complete negotiations of the Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA) by January 2005.

In this regard, the officials examined the challenges and benefits of the FTAA as it relates to the improvement of the quality of life for CARICOM nationals and the Region as a whole.

Other issues of critical importance which were discussed included the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as well as facilitating the process of integration of new members in CARICOM.