The Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which met in St. Kitts on Tuesday has agreed to recommend to the full Conference of Heads the setting up of a Task Force to re-examine the admittance of the Dominican Republic as a full member of the regional integration movement.
"We were able to look at a structure that has been put in place that we would recommend to the Heads of Government at our next meeting in (July 2007), confirming the merger of CARIFORUM and CARICOM, thus strengthening the resulting institution so that we can collaborate better on trade and other maters with the Dominican Republic," CARICOM Chairman, St. Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said at a media briefing following the 21st Meeting of the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community on Tuesday night.
Prime Minister Douglas noted it was 15 years ago that the Spanish-speaking Caribbean nation of 8 million people made an application for membership of the Caribbean Community.
"At that time it was not considered appropriate but today, the Bureau has taken a decision to recommend to the Heads of Government at our next meeting that a Task Force should be established that would reexamine the possible proposal of the Dominican Republic advancing into CARICOM, looking specifically at conditions and matters pertaining to full membership," said Prime Minister Douglas in his opening statement at the press briefing.
~~Adz:Right~~Besides the current CARICOM Chairman, the Bureau Meeting at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank was attended by Incoming Chairman, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves; Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Hon. Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony, Barbados' Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Mia Mottley and CARICOM Secretary General His Excellency, Dr. Edwin Carrington.
