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The Eighteenth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the
Caribbean Community, was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on 30 June-4 July 1997.
Heads of Government in attendance were: Hon. Lester Bird, Prime Minister
and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Planning, Social Services and Information,
Antigua and Barbuda; Rt. Hon Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister, The Bahamas; Rt.
Hon. Owen Arthur, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs,
Barbados; the Rt. Hon. Manuel Esquivel, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
and Economic Development, Belize; Hon. Edison James, Prime Minister and Minister
of External Affairs, Legal Affairs and Labour, Dominica; Dr. the Hon. Keith
C. Mitchell, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Trade, Industry and National
Security, Grenada; His Excellency Samuel A. Hinds, President, Cooperative Republic
of Guyana; Rt. Hon. Percival J. Patterson, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence,
Jamaica; Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Finance, Planning and National Security, St Kitts and Nevis; Dr. the Hon. Kenny
Anthony, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Information and the Public
Service, Saint Lucia; Rt. Hon. Sir James E. Mitchell, Prime Minister and Minister
of Finance, St Vincent and the Grenadines; His Excellency Drs. Jules A. Wijdenbosch,
President, Republic of Suriname, and Hon. Basdeo Panday, Prime Minister, Republic
of Trinidad and Tobago.
The British Virgin Islands was represented by the Chief Minister, Hon.
Ralph O'Neal. The Turks and Caicos Islands was represented by Hon. Derek Hugh
Taylor, Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Development and Commerce.
Hon. Adelina Tuitt, Minister of Education, represented Montserrat.
Hon. Hubert Hughes, Chief Minister of Anguilla also attended.
Also in attendance were His Excellency Dr. Leonel Fernandez, the President of
the Dominican Republic, and His Excellency René Préval, President of the Republic
of Haiti.
Dr. the Hon. Nathan Shamuyarira, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Zimbabwe
represented His Excellency Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe.
The following dignitaries were also in attendance as specially invited participants
to the Conference; Hon. Ricardo Cabrisas, Minister of Trade of Cuba; His Excellency
Emeka Anyaoku, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth; His Excellency Dr. Joao
Pinheiro, Commissioner for Development, European Union; and His Excellency Cesar
Gaviria Trujillo, Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States (OAS).
Messages were received from the President of the Republic of Venezuela
and from the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the
Secretary-General of the United Nations.
OPENING CEREMONY
The Opening Ceremony was chaired by Mr. Edwin Carrington, Secretary-General
of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
In his remarks, the Secretary-General observed that "the dynamics
of change and the expectation as we move inexorably to a new millenium - in
fact in a mere 914 days or so - have been virtually unprecedented in recent
history." Further, "the transformation and fuller utilisation of our
human resources will undoubtedly be the bedrock on which we construct a strong
community in the new millenium using our small size more as an asset than a
liability."
Statements were made by the Rt. Hon. Percival J. Patterson, Prime Minister
of Jamaica and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government; Hon. Lester
Bird, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda; H.E. Mr. Samuel A. Hinds, President
of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana; Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister
of The Bahamas, and Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia.
In his statement, Prime Minister Patterson welcomed his colleague Heads of Government
and their delegations to the Eighteenth CARICOM Summit in Montego Bay and extended
a special welcome to President Hinds of Guyana, and Prime Minister Anthony of
Saint Lucia, who were attending their first Meeting of the Conference of Heads
of Government in their new capacities.
Prime Minister Patterson recalled that fifty years ago another generation of
West Indian leaders had met at Fairfield, Montego Bay, to chart a future for
the Caribbean Region in the post-war era and to prepare, as free peoples, for
the tasks of nation-building that would accompany Independence. Noting the changing
dynamics in the New World Order, he urged the Caribbean Community to commence
a new chapter in the pursuit of unity "to secure our survival, promote
our progress and preserve our independence."
Prime Minster Lester Bird, in noting the passing of both President Cheddi
Jagan of Guyana and former Prime Minister of Jamaica Michael Manley, noted they
had left a legacy that all leaders should embrace of selfless commitment to
the People, a willingness to stand up against the odds in pursuit of national
development and fierce determination to defend the Region's rights and entitlements.
Prime Minister Bird said conditions in the world environment were not
helpful to the Caribbean but it was not beyond us to change these conditions
or to reach an appropriate accommodation with them.
President Samuel Hinds said "we would fail the original architects
of CARICOM if we do not refine their vision in light of our experiences."
He expressed the view that "growth and development was a slower process
entailing more toil, endurance and soul searching than we imagined as we struggled
for independence. This growth and development after independence required the
integration of our people in a social contract, essentially different from that
of colonial society."
The Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham said it remained critically important to
mobilise our joint negotiating skills to maximise potential benefits to the
Region from opportunities and challenges resulting from North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), the Caribbean
Basin Initiative (CBI) and the post-Lome relationship with Europe.
He also said it was only appropriate, given the nature and dynamism of
the forces and developments in international trade that CARICOM's response be
defined by a sense of urgency and realism. He announced the payment in full
of the assessed contribution of The Bahamas to the budget of the Regional Negotiating
Machinery (RNM).
Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony said that "a new style of governance in CARICOM
requires that we make decisions that are capable of implementation, that we
argue and negotiate differences so that the final accord represents not a false,
facile concession, but a genuine digestion of division that ultimately produces
a decision that envelopes our hopes and dreams."
All the speakers drew reference to the plight of Montserrat and called for a
Regional response.
THE SITUATION IN MONTSERRAT
Heads of Government received with profound sorrow the news of greatly increased
levels of volcanic activity in Montserrat. They expressed their condolences
to the Government and people of that fellow Member State on the tragic loss
of life and the extensive physical damage occasioned by the continuing eruption
of the Soufriere Hills Volcano. Aware that this violent and unrelenting natural
disaster threatened the economic survival of Montserrat and the livelihood of
its people, Heads of Government committed themselves to the provision within
the limits of their resources, such humanitarian, economic, technical, diplomatic
and other forms of assistance in support of economic and social life in Montserrat,
including the mobilisation of external assistance from regional and international
donor institutions and countries.
They instructed the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) to
coordinate the assistance to be provided from Member States to Montserrat.
The Government of Montserrat expressed its deep appreciation for the support
provided by CARICOM Member States in response to the situation in Montserrat.
Signing of the Protocols Amending
the Treaty of ChaguaramAS
During the Opening Ceremony, the Prime Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados,
Belize, Dominica, Grenada, the President of Guyana, the Prime Ministers of Jamaica,
St Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago
signed Protocol II on the Rights of Establishment, Provision of Services and
Movement of Capital.
The President of Suriname affixed his signature with an understanding that it
would be effective as from a date to be notified by Suriname.
The Prime Minister of The Bahamas signed Protocol I Amending the Treaty
of Chaguaramas which provides for the restructuring of the Organs and Institutions
of the Community and for redefining their functional relationships so as to
enhance the participation of their peoples of the Region and in particular the
social partners, in the integration movement.
Education and Human Resource
Development
Strategies for Building a Creative and Productive Workforce
Heads of Government committed themselves to the implementation of specific measures
identified in the documents Towards Creative and Productive Citizens
for the Twenty-First Century and Human Resource Development
and Science and Technology within the Context of the Single Market and Economy
endorsed during the Special Session of the Eighteenth Meeting of the Conference
which addressed Education and Human Resource Development: Strategies
for Building a Creative and Productive Workforce.
They agreed on a number of measures for priority implementation, including the
attainment of 15 per cent enrolment of the post-secondary group in tertiary-level
education by the Year 2005 and universal quality secondary education by the
same date.
Heads of Government recognised that knowledge had become the central factor
of competitiveness. They emphasised the importance of life-long learning and
continuing education as well as the need to develop and apply science and technology
to the production of goods and services. They also agreed to enlist the active
participation of the Private sector in policy development, planning, implementation
and financing of HRD programmes.
Heads of Government re-emphasised that education and training must be
relevant and should lead to the development of a creative and adaptive individual;
and be geared to producing skilled labour for the key economic sectors of industry,
agriculture and services, in particular tourism.
They agreed to the establishment of national machineries to monitor the implementation
of national programmes and the setting up of a High-Level Technical Group at
the Regional level to monitor the achievement of goals and to evaluate the impact
of these programmes.
CANDIDATURES
Heads of Government endorsed Sir George Alleyne of Barbados as the CARICOM
candidate for the position of Director-General of the World Health Organisation
and agreed that all CARICOM States would use every opportunity to advance this
candidature. They also endorsed the candidature of Jamaica for election to one
of the two non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council allocated to the Latin
America and Caribbean Group for the period 2000-2001. Elections for this position
will be held at the Fifty-Fourth Session of the United Nations General Assembly
in 1999.
Heads of Government also endorsed the proposal by the Caribbean Group in UNESCO
for the acceptance by the UNESCO membership of the allocation to the Caribbean
of four permanent seats on the UNESCO Executive Board.
Heads of Government also endorsed the other candidatures recommended by the
Twenty-Third Meeting of the Standing Committee of Ministers responsible for
Foreign Affairs.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Heads of Government recalled with appreciation the continued interest
of the Government of the British Virgin Islands, to become a full member of
the Caribbean Community. They noted that following the visit of a team to the
British Virgin Islands, a Draft Memorandum of Understanding setting out possible
membership terms had been prepared. The Government of the British Virgin Islands
is engaging in wide ranging internal consultations on the Draft Memorandum with
a view to finalising the process as soon as possible. In the meantime, the British
Virgin Islands will continue its participation in the Caribbean Community as
an Associate Member.
HAITI
Heads of Government expressed their satisfaction at the acceptance by the President
of Haiti, His Excellency, Mr. Réné Préval of their invitation to participate
in their Eighteenth Meeting. With regard to Haiti's application for membership
in the Community, Heads of Government, in accordance with Article 29, agreed
to admit Haiti to membership of the Community. In accordance with Article 29(2),
Heads of Government constituted a Working Group to settle the terms and conditions
of Haiti's accession. In the interim, Haiti was invited to participate in the
deliberations of the Organs and Bodies of the Community.
Heads of Government also took note with satisfaction of their ongoing
cooperation efforts with Haiti including the formal presentation to President
Préval at their Eighteenth Meeting of 30,000 manuals for use in Haiti's Literacy
Campaign.
Heads of Government welcomed the decision of Canada, following consultation
with Haiti, to further extend the Canadian presence in Haiti until December
1997.
BELIZE-GUATEMALA
Heads of Government noted the report by the Prime Minister of Belize on
the continuing claim by Guatemala to Belizean territory which had been restated
by Guatemala at discussions held in February 1997 in Miami, USA as well as the
response of Belize to Guatemala that the statement of the territorial claim
represented a retrograde step. They called upon the Government of Guatemala
to review its position, taking into account, the ongoing expressions of concern
by the international community over the continuation of its claim to Belizean
territory. They also encouraged the Governments of Belize and Guatemala to continue
their dialogue so that an early solution to the problem could be arrived at
in which Guatemala would relinquish its territorial claim and recognise the
boundaries of Belize as established by the 1859 Boundary Treaty.
GUYANA-VENEZUELA
Heads of Government noted that the relations between Guyana and Venezuela were
cordial and continued to progress through dialogue and mutual understanding
although certain irritants continued to be present in these relations.
They expressed their satisfaction that the solution to the controversy continued
to be dealt with under the aegis of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
and in this regard, they welcomed the role of the good officer, Sir Alister
McIntyre in this process.
They reaffirmed their full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity
of Guyana and reiterated their desire for a peaceful settlement of the Guyana-Venezuela
controversy.
ASSOCIATION OF CARIBBEAN
STATES
Heads of Government noted the major developments within the Association
of Caribbean States (ACS) since their Seventeenth Meeting, including the convening
of the Second Ordinary Meeting of the ACS Ministerial Council at which Grenada
assumed the Presidency, as well as Meetings of the ACS Special Committees. Heads
of Government emphasised the need for CARICOM Member States to continue to participate
in the consolidation of the ACS to ensure the attainment of its objectives.
CARICOM-CENTRAL AMERICA
Heads of Government noted the mechanisms that had been put in place at the Third
Meeting of the CARICOM-Central America Ministerial Conference, held in Costa
Rica in November 1996 for closer cooperation and integration between the two
regions. They welcomed the agreement of Central America to move towards free
trade with CARICOM and looked forward to continuing the process of dialogue
and convergence at the next CARICOM-Central America Ministerial Conference to
be held in Guyana in the third quarter of 1997.
CARICOM-CANADA RELATIONS
Heads of Government expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the Eighth
Meeting of the Canada-CARICOM Joint Trade and Economic Committee (JTEC) and
reiterated their confidence that the special relationship between CARICOM and
Canada will continue to their mutual benefit. They welcomed the ongoing consultative
process on which Suriname had embarked with Canada towards the incorporation
of Suriname in the Existing CARICOM-Canada Agreements. They also welcomed the
proposal by Canada for the Fifth CARICOM-Canada Summit to be held in the Spring
of 1998.
CARICOM-JAPAN RELATIONS
Heads of Government welcomed the intensified relationship that was being
developed between CARICOM and Japan and looked forward to the convening of the
Fifth CARICOM-Japan Encounter during the last quarter of 1997. They expressed
appreciation to the Government of Barbados for having agreed to host that Encounter.
CARICOM-USA RELATIONS
Heads of Government reiterated their satisfaction with the Caribbean-USA
Summit held in Barbados, on 10 May 1997 and with the Bridgetown Partnership
for Prosperity and Security which was adopted. They welcomed the arrangements
for annual consultations between the Foreign Ministers of the Caribbean and
the US Secretary of State and recognised the need for urgent and intense follow-up
to the decisions adopted at the Caribbean-USA Summit. They also welcomed the
early attention being given by the US Authorities to this process and reiterated
their commitment to promote measures towards the advancement of trade enhancement
and other areas of critical importance to the Region. They expressed their concern
however that on certain critical understandings reached, the follow-through
has not met expectations.
SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS
Heads of Government took note of the accelerating pace of preparation for the
next Summit of the Americas to be held in Santiago, Chile, 18-19 April 1998.
They recognised the imperative of immediate commencement of preparation by the
Region for effective participation in the Summit. They expressed the view that
the proposed Agenda adopted by the Foreign Ministers of the Hemisphere on 1
June 1997, reflected the broad interests of all participating states and reiterated
their commitment to the hemispheric process launched at the Miami Summit in
December 1994. With respect to the process for the creation of a Free Trade
Area of the Americas, Heads of Government were apprised of the recommendation
of the Trade Ministers of the Hemisphere that negotiations be launched at the
Second Summit. In that context, they took note of the schedule of preparatory
activities for the Fourth Meeting of Hemispheric Trade Ministers in Costa Rica
in February 1998. They charged the newly established Regional Negotiating Machinery
to ensure the effective preparation and participation of the Region in both
the Fourth Trade Ministerial Meeting and the Second Summit of the Americas.
Heads of Government welcomed the efforts of the Governments of Chile and Costa
Rica to maintain an open preparatory process and to involve all States in the
hemisphere. They pledged their cooperation with the two host governments.
Heads of Government welcomed adoption of the Report of the Working Group on
Smaller Economies and reiterated their determination to ensure that the interests
of these economies are fully taken into account in the preparation for and the
content of the FTAA. Heads of Government recognised the continuing importance
of the Working Group on Smaller Economies in the refinement and promotion of
their interests within the FTAA.
CARIBBEAN-EU RELATIONS
Heads of Government exchanged views with Professor Joao de Deus Pinheiro, Commissioner
for Development, European Union. Participating in the discussions were the Presidents
of the Dominican Republic and Haiti and the Minister of Industry and Commerce
of Zimbabwe, who attended as the special representative of President Mugabe,
of Zimbabwe which currently holds the Presidency of the ACP Council. The Cuban
Minister of Trade attended as an Observer in solidarity with the CARIFORUM Group.
Heads of Government outlined the general philosophy and specific views of the
Caribbean on the approach to, and various elements of, a successor Convention
to Lomé IV. Commissioner Pinheiro welcomed the ACP intention to negotiate the
successor Convention as a unified group. Professor Pinheiro outlined his vision
for the Convention and the process underway in the EU to develop a definitive
position. He laid emphasis on the changed international environment in which
the successor Convention will be negotiated and underscored his belief that
the concept of ownership would be an essential component in any successor arrangement.
The Commissioner was positive and largely in unison with the views expressed
by CARIFORUM Heads of Government.
The Zimbabwean Minister stressed the importance of ACP solidarity and of sustained
efforts to maintaining cohesion in the face of efforts to undermine the Group.
He recalled that it was on the basis of solidarity that the Lomé Convention
had been achieved and he expressed the confidence that should this be maintained,
the successor arrangement to Lomé IV will be as satisfactory as the earlier
Conventions. The Minister pointed to CARICOM's impressive history of integration
and that information acquired and lessons learned during his visit would be
transmitted to the African Region to President Mugabe whose country currently
occupies the Presidency of the OAU as well as the ACP.
REGIONAL NEGOTIATING MACHINERY
Heads of Government received the first progress report on the activities
of the Regional Negotiating Machinery established to coordinate the Region's
external negotiations. The priority areas of focus are the FTAA, Post Lomé IV
ACP-EU Relations; the non-economic initiatives of the Miami Summit, including
the Second Summit, and the World Trade Organisation negotiations. The Regional
Negotiating Machinery effectively established in April 1997 has as its Chief
Negotiator, Sir Shridath Ramphal. Heads of Government welcomed the efforts towards
the consolidation, staffing and other logistical aspects of the Regional Negotiating
Machinery. Noting the financial requirements for the first year of operations
of the Regional Negotiating Machinery, Heads of Government agreed to fulfil
their obligations and acknowledged with appreciation the support to be provided
by the Caribbean Development Bank and the Commonwealth Secretariat as well as
that pledged by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Heads of Government
also welcomed the offer by the Government of Barbados to provide accommodation
and facilities for the small Technical Unit which would support the work of
the Regional Negotiating Machinery.
Heads of Government also endorsed a paper entitled Approaches to
the Development of a Strategy and Positions for the Caribbean,
as a basis for consultation throughout the CARIFORUM region towards the development
of a Regional Negotiating strategy.
They agreed to a process of consultation to define the Regional Negotiating
Strategy beginning with a Joint Meeting of the four Negotiating Working Groups
in late July 1997. They also agreed that the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee
on External Negotiations should adopt the Regional Negotiating Strategy before
the end of October 1997.
Heads of Government noted the establishment of Advisory Committees on External
Negotiations in a number of Member States and urged similar action throughout
the Region. They nevertheless recognised the constraints faced by some countries
especially those in the OECS in preparing for the series of external negotiations
and acknowledged the request for assistance to those countries and to the OECS
Secretariat.
CARICOM SINGLE MARKET AND
ECONOMY
Heads of Government acknowledged that a number of significant steps towards
the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy by the Year 1999
have been taken. The signing of Protocol I amending the Treaty of Chaguaramas
to restructure the Organs and Institutions of the Community has now been completed
and Member States have declared their intention to provisionally apply Protocol
I pending its ratification and entry into force.
New ground in the integration arrangement has been broken with the signing by
eleven Member States of Protocol II to provide for the Right of Establishment,
Provision of Services and Movement of Capital which constitute the central elements
of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. On ratification of the Protocol, the
ground will be laid for the free movement of factors of production giving CARICOM
nationals the right to establish businesses for the production of goods and
services throughout participating countries.
Heads of Government mandated the Secretariat and the Inter Governmental Task
Force to finalise the Protocols on Disadvantaged Countries, Regions and Sectors,
Agricultural, Industrial and Trade Policy by the Ninth Inter-Sessional Meeting,
and the remaining Protocols on Dispute Settlement, Competition Policy and Transportation
by the Nineteenth Meeting of Conference.
Since the last Meeting of the Conference, the CARICOM Agreement on Social Security
which provides for the transfer of Social Security benefits has entered into
force among six Member States adding to the regional Agreements intended to
facilitate the operations of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
Heads of Government with lead responsibilities for the various elements of the
CARICOM Single Market and Economy have been enjoined to use their good offices
to ensure and facilitate the implementation of the requisite measures in a timeframe
reflective of the 1999 target date.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROTECTION
PROGRAMME
Heads of Government viewed with concern the problems arising with the administration
of justice whereby witnesses and other individuals within the system have been
eliminated or intimidated. In this regard, they accepted the recommendations
of the Panel of Experts on the Criminal Justice Protection Programme which have
been referred to the appropriate authorities for implementation.
TOURISM
Heads of Government considered a number of proposals on air transportation,
tourism, human resource development and capital investment which had been identified
by CARICOM Ministers of Tourism as critical issues in sustainable tourism development.
With respect to air transportation, Heads of Government agreed that a
meeting of air transport and tourism personnel be convened in January, 1998
to determine a strategy for the sustainability and development of both the tourism
and airline industries in the Region, with its recommendation to be submitted
to the Ninth Inter-Sessional Meeting of Conference.
Heads of Government also agreed that Ministers of Tourism should conduct an
in-depth examination of Human Resource Development (HRD) issues at their proposed
meeting in January 1998. The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) proposal for
the formation of a Tourism Education and Training Council, at the broader CARIFORUM
level, which would oversee the strategic changes needed in Tourism HRD was unanimously
accepted by the Conference. It was further agreed that Association of Caribbean
Tertiary Institutions (ACTI) should be a member of the proposed Council.
Investment in Tourism
Heads of Government expect to receive at their next Inter-Sessional Meeting,
a comprehensive paper on issues related to investment in tourism which will
be presented after consideration by Tourism and Finance Ministers of the Region.
CARICOM Tourism Forum
Heads agreed to a proposal that Tourism Ministers of CARICOM should meet systematically
to advance issues and develop policies for the tourism industry. Such meetings
would take place as part of the Council on Trade and Economic Development (COTED).
Michael Manley Memorial Fund
The CTO Michael Manley Memorial Fund, of which Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson
is the Patron, was officially launched at the Eighteenth Meeting of the Conference
on 2 July 1997. It pays tribute to the Rt. Hon. Michael Manley for his contribution
to regional tourism and will help to train young Caribbean people to take up
roles in Caribbean tourism development.
BANANAS
Heads of Government welcomed the European Union's appeal against the WTO panel
decision, and the support being given by the European Union generally towards
the maintenance of the EU Banana Regime. Heads of Government undertook to participate
fully in the appeal process through the ACP.
They noted with regret that steps taken by President Clinton to resolve
the European banana issue while addressing Caribbean concerns, have not yet
achieved the desired results.
RICE
The Heads of Government agreed to despatch a Ministerial Mission to Brussels
for urgent discussions with senior European Union officials on the problems
being faced by Caribbean rice exporters on the European market. The issues to
be discussed are the continued application of safeguard measures against the
exportation of ACP rice to the European Union through the Overseas Countries
and Territories (OCTs) and the delay in the implementation of the reduction
of the levy payable on ACP rice exported directly to the European Union.
LISBON WORLD EXPOSITION:
EXPO '98
Heads of Government considered the participation on a joint basis of CARICOM
Member States in Expo '98 which is to be held in Lisbon from 22 May-30 September
1998 under the theme The Oceans. Heads of Government urged
that at both national and regional levels, action be taken to facilitate effective
regional participation in the Expo.
IWOKRAMA RAINFOREST PROJECT
Heads of Government were pleased to learn that the Commonwealth Secretariat
was in the process of organising a donor conference to be held later in the
year in Brussels, Belgium to mobilise funding for the Iwokrama Rainforest Project
in Guyana.
They reiterated their support for the project and encouraged the participation
of Member States along with the international community in support of this initiative.
CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY TWENTY-FIFTH
ANNIVERSARY
Heads of Government in recognition of the milestone which will be reached by
the Community in 1998, agreed that the Region would appropriately celebrate
the Twenty-Fifth JAnniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas with
year-long activities. CARICOM Day 1998 will be marked by the Member States of
the Region.
DATE AND VENUE OF THE NINTH
INTER-SESSIONAL MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE
Heads of Government agreed to convene their Ninth Inter-Sessional Meeting in
Grenada during the first quarter of 1998.
APPRECIATION
Heads of Government expressed their deep appreciation to the Government and
People of Jamaica for the excellent arrangements made for their Meeting and
for the opportunity presented to the Region to observe the Fiftieth Anniversary
of the Montego Bay Conference on the Closer Association of the British
West Indian Colonies. Appreciation was also expressed for the many
courtesies extended to their delegations.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
4 July 1997
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