A cross-section of non-state interest groups are scheduled to meet later this week in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines capital, Kingstown, to continue their national dialogue with non-state actors on the regional integration process, particularly as it relates to new and emerging trade agreements. The particular concerns to be addressed by the forum will centre around "fair and just" treatment for all sectors of society as well as positioning of the small economies of the Caribbean in the global arena.

The forum takes the form of a one-day workshop slated for Thursday 28 February 2002, at the University of the West Indies, School of Continuing Studies.

The Civil Society forum sets off an independent round of discussions, following up on the Caribbean Community's (CARICOM) consultations with non-state actors in Member States which started in June 2001. The deliberations will specifically be directed at deepening the preparatory work leading up to the regional Encounter "Forward Together" now set for Georgetown, Guyana , 26-27 April 2002.

The Windward Islands Farmers Association (WINFA) is spearheading the local discussions among the private sector, non governmental organisations (NGOs) and other non-state actors as enthusiasm about CARICOM's new vision for the Caribbean society builds-up in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The objectives of the local forum are three fold: to strengthen the Civil Society Network in St Vincent and the Grenadines, to deepen public education initiatives on issues of international trade, governance, sustainable development and to broaden the consultative process and strengthen alliances with other social partners.

Local organisers have confirmed that at least thirty organisations are expected to participate the deliberations. St Vincent and the Grenadines delegates to the World Trade Organisation's Doha Meeting as well as representatives from the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC), a main sponsor of the event, will address the forum.

Meanwhile, the CARICOM Secretariat has been fielding wide-ranging national opinions across the Region catering for the widest possible contribution of civil society at the local level in preparation for the historic Regional forum "Forward Together Encounter" aimed at charting a new course for the regional integration movement in the Twenty-first century.