(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) officials responsible for human development will advance talks for the establishment of a Demand Reduction Programme for Drugs when they meet under the umbrella of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) in Guyana this week.

The Thirteenth Meeting of the COHSOD, scheduled for 26-28 October, will also focus sharply on perspectives, prospects, challenges, for youth and child development within the context of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). To this end, discussions surrounding the development of a regional Strategy for Youth Development (RSYD) will be a dominant feature of the COHSOD deliberations. As the Caribbean prepares to host Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007, the meeting will receive a status report on the Region’s crime and security enhancement measures. In addition, proposals for integrated models for Sports and Development, the Free Movement of Sports Persons, and the establishment of a Regional Anti-Doping Organisation will be put to the Council for its consideration.

With the establishment of new enterprises likely to result with the implementation of the CSME, the COHSOD plans to explore employment opportunities for youth. The body will also examine issues of gender and education in relation to the CSME. Given the importance of the use of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) now pervasive on the global sphere, the preparation of the Region’s youth for the Information Society is another issue to be tabled at COHSOD Thirteen.

Meanwhile, other reports to be unveiled at the upcoming meeting include plans for CARIFESTA 2006, the Region’s progress towards achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and an update on the work of the Pan-Caribbean Partnership (PANCAP). These are in addition to reports on Criminal Justice and Security, Social Protection in the Caribbean, the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Programme, Local Government Issues in COHSOD, and a report of the Seventh Meeting of Officials on the Free Movement of Skills and Facilitation of Travel.