Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who assumed chairmanship of Caricom on Monday, will welcome 14 Caribbean leaders to the heads of government meeting that begins in Port-of-Spain today. The leaders include three associate members: The Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea, President Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic and President Nicolas Maduro of the Republic of Venezuela.
The meeting begins at 6 pm with a flag ceremony at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. Several leaders, including Persad-Bissessar, will address the ceremony. The meeting is expected to discuss:
• The economic situation facing member states and the region.
• Transportation in the region.
• Proposal for a high-level meeting on people with disabilities and special needs.
• Membership and associate membership of the Caribbean Community.
• Reform process in Caricom—state of progress.
• Progress on the region’s preparations for the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.
• External trade Issues.
Among the conference highlights will be the re-enactment of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas with a ceremony at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre tomorrow. On Friday all the leaders will attend an all-day retreat. The conference ends on Saturday with bi-lateral talks with President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela.