CARICOM Heads to tackle wide-ranging agenda at Barbados Meeting

Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government meet in Barbados, 18-19 February 2020,
with issues ranging from current public health concerns to strengthening ties
with Africa before them.  The Heads of
Government are also expected to have an exchange of views with the Prime
Minister of Canada Mr. Justin Trudeau.

This 31^st
Inter-Sessional Meeting, under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Mia Mottley
of Barbados, is expected to deliberate on a regional approach to the Corona
Virus (Covid-19) as well as the continuing challenges posed by non-communicable
diseases (NCDs)

 Heads are also expected to examine the status
of implementation of provisions of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).  In this regard, they are expected to have an
engagement with representatives of the Region’s Private Sector, Labour and
Civil Society.

Among other
pressing economic development matters, the Meeting is expected to discuss
digital transformation in CARICOM and an action plan for elimination of
regional roaming charges. The need for ongoing advocacy against the challenges
of blacklisting, de-risking, and withdrawal of Correspondent Banking Services
is also expected to get the Head’s attention.

The Heads
are also expected to discuss a proposed CARICOM African Summit among a number
of Foreign and Community relations matters. 

They are
also expected to address crime, violence and security issues affecting the
Region.

The Meeting,
at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC), begins at 9:00 a.m. with Opening
Remarks from:

• CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador
  Irwin LaRocque
• Out-going CARICOM Chairman, Prime
  Minister Allen Chastanet of Saint Lucia
• CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Mia
  Mottley of Barbados

This will be
followed by a Presentation  to the
Meeting from:

• Prime Minister of Canada, Mr Justin
  Trudeau

This Session
will be Live-Streamed on the CARICOM Secretariat’s Face Book page -    https://www.facebook.com/caricom.org