(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) When Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meet on 3-6 July in St Kitts and Nevis for the Twenty-Seventh Regular meeting of the Conference, they will take a hard look at a wide range of issues including migration, human trafficking and the changing geo-politics of the Region, as well as the role of energy in their economies.

This disclosure was made by CARICOM Secretary-General, H.E Edwin Carrington, on Tuesday 20 June, during a pre-Conference media briefing which was transmitted simultaneously to twelve Member States and Associate Members across the Region via video conferencing facilities up-linked from St Kitts and Nevis.

The Secretary-General told the media that the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), crime and security, human resources, health and HIV/AIDS were also on the front burner for discussion among Heads of Government. In addition, reports from CARICOM Heads of Government with portfolio responsibility for agriculture, external trade, energy and culture were also on the agenda.

The Secretary-General described Haiti’s return to the Councils of CARICOM as one of the “most exciting” features of the Meeting. He informed that Haiti’s President, H.E Rene Preval will address the opening ceremony on 3 July, which is expected to have the full participation of CARICOM Member States and Associate Members.

The opening ceremony of the 27th Regular Meeting of the Conference will also feature an address from the new Chairman of the Conference, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr Denzil Douglas; Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Hon Patrick Manning;-outgoing chairman; the new Prime Minister of Jamaica the Most Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller; Chairman of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines., Dr. the Hon Ralph Gonsalves, as well as remarks by the CARICOM Secretary-General Mr. Edwin W. Carrington;