 |
| St. Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister and CARICOM Chairman, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and Secretary General of CARICOM, His Excellency Dr. Edwin Carrington |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 16TH 2006 St. Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister on. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas will lead a prime ministerial mission to Haiti with a pledge to do "everything possible" as current CARICOM chairman to help influence "tangible benefits" for the Haitian people.
The Douglas-led team will include the Prime Ministers of St. Lucia Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony and Dominica, Hon. Roosevelt Skerritt as well as CARICOM Secretary-General His Excellency Dr. Edwin Carrington.
The one-day mission is in keeping with a decision by CARICOM leaders at their annual summit in St. Kitts and Nevis last July to "demonstrate the Community's support to the government and people of Haiti," following the restoration of a legitimate administration in Port-au-Prince, led by new President His Excellency Rene Preval.
Dr. Douglas said he was particularly keen on promoting health benefits for the Haitian people now that Haiti had returned to the CARICOM fold. He has lead responsibility for regional health development matters, with a specific focus on countering the dreaded HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Ahead of tomorrow's Haiti mission, Douglas is today chairing a one-day meeting of the CARICOM Bureau " the Community's management committee between Heads of Government Conferences - at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.
~~Adz:Left~~
The meeting is scheduled to deal with a range of issues, including arrangements for the November 2 United Kingdom-Caribbean Investment Forum at Lancaster House, London.
The Bureau will also review the work agenda for the 12th special summit meeting to be hosted in Port-of-Spain by Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Hon. Patrick Manning.
Primary focus of the meeting will be collective action, across the Community, in the implementation process of the Sir George Alleyne-led high-level Commission on Health and Development in the Caribbean.
Other members of the current CARICOM Bureau are Vincentian Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, who is scheduled to host the next Inter-Sessional Meeting of Community leaders in February next year; and Prime Minister Anthony, who has been requested to address outstanding issues on governance and justice, for which he has lead portfolio responsibility.
~~Adz:Right~~
