CARICOM Heads meet

Prime Minister Hon Allen Chastanet stated yesterday that essential agenda items are to be discussed at the 38th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The conference will take place in Grenada from July 4 – 6.
Prime Minister Chastanet, along with the Minister with responsibility for External Affairs, Hon Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, and Ambassador to CARICOM, Her Excellency Elma Gene Isaac, will attend the meeting held under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister of Grenada, Hon Dr Keith Mitchell.
This meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government also falls on the CARICOM anniversary of July 4, with several significant agenda items down for consideration by the Heads of Government, including regional security, the CSME, tourism, air transportation, and opportunities for financing for development. The Heads of Government will also consider a regional plan for statistics development, a work plan and budget for the single ICT space, reparations, and the 2007 Port of Spain Declaration: “Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases.”
Speaking to local media ahead of the trip, the prime minister said critical issues that also need to be discussed at the CARICOM level are Brexit and the situation in Venezuela.
In the prime minister’s absence, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives, Hon Ezechiel Joseph, will serve as acting prime minister.