(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) At least three Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Secretary-General His Excellency Edwin Carrington will attend the CARICOM National Honour Day Celebrations on Saturday 17 July at Expo 2010, Shanghai, China.

President of Guyana, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, is CARICOM’s Head of Delegation to the celebrations. The Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis who will represent the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and the Honourable Tillman Thomas, Prime Minister of Grenada are also confirmed to attend the celebrations. Secretary-General Carrington is attending in his capacity as Commissioner-General of Section, in respect of the Caribbean.

With the exception of Montserrat, all CARICOM Member States will be represented at the event.

The observances will feature the raising of the CARICOM standard during a formal programme at which President Jagdeo will deliver remarks on behalf of the Community. Day-long activities include grand cultural performances, an exchange of gifts and visits to booths in the CARICOM Pavilion at the Exposition. Artists, culinary delights, fashion and music will be showcased on that day.

Fourteen CARICOM Member States have constructed theme-based booths in the Community’s Joint Pavilion, while the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) share one booth, also in the Pavilion.

Through exhibits and multimedia presentations, CARICOM is using the medium of the Exposition to showcase its cultural heritage, natural landscape and resources, clean energy development, urban development, tourism products, culinary arts and craft.

Expo 2010, which opened on the evening of 30 April and runs for six months, is being held under the theme, Better City Better Life. The theme represents the common sentiment of mankind for a safer, better living in urban environments. According to the organizers, the theme is one of the central concerns of the International Community for policy-making, urban strategies and sustainable development.

Approximately 200 participants are at Expo 2010, the first World Expo with a `city’ theme. An estimated 70 million patrons are expected to visit the exhibition.

Among the Secretary-General’s activities while in China are participation in the launch of a children’s book authored by Trinidad and Tobago national, Lisa Sankar-Zhu who currently lives in China; and visits to various pavilions at the Expo Site.

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org