(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Matters relating to Free Movement in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) as well as Culture and Trade in the CSME will be high on the agenda of the Second Joint Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) which opens on Thursday 24 January in Georgetown, Guyana.

The meeting gets underway at the Buddy’s International Hotel at 9:00 hrs.

Free Movement of Skills, Facilitation of Travel, and the Implementation of the Harmonised Entry Procedures for Non-Wage Earners are among the issues which will be considered under the broader agenda item `Implementation of the CSME’. The meeting is also to agree on common definitions with respect to a Regional Policy on Contingent Rights.

With regard to Culture and Trade, delegates will deliberate on the Free Movement of Artists and Cultural workers as well as the State of Cultural Industries in the Region, and Culture and Trade Negotiations, among other issues. There is a Protocol on Cultural Cooperation in the recently concluded Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between CARIFORUM and the European Union with provision being made for improved access to the EU market for CARIFORUM’s entertainers.

Domestic regulations in relation to health professionals, trade issues impacting on health, as well as trade in education services are among the other issues the delegates will discuss.

Delegates will also benefit from an update on the CARICOM Regional Accreditation Agency for Education and Training.