The CARICOM Community Council of Ministers approved a Draft Agenda which included matters pertaining to the Single Market Economy, the Caribbean Court of Justice, negotiations for a Free Trade Area of The Americas, and negotiations with the European Union for an Economic Partnership Agreement.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service Fred Mitchell made the announcement after returning on Wednesday from his visit to Guyana, where he attended the 11th Meeting of the Community Council of Ministers.
Mr. Mitchell, who also holds the position of Minister of CARICOM Affairs, held a press conference at the House Assembly along with Ambassador to CARICOM Leonard Archer.
The Council he said, also approved CARICOM’s Budget for 2003 and The Bahamas’ contribution of $1 million remains unchanged from last year.
The Council, said Mr. Mitchell, received a report from the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFOR) which included current issues as the situation in Venezuela, and Iraq, the Community’s relations with the United States, and issues related to the International Criminal Court.
The Community Council, the second highest organ of CARICOM, supervises the work of other CARICOM councils, with it’s prime responsibility being the preparatory body of the Conference.
This includes the preparation of a Draft Agenda which will go forward to the Meetings of the Conference.
Mr. Mitchell explained that the Community Council had before it the Provisional Agenda proposed by the Secretariat for the next Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference, which will be held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, February 14 and 15, 2003.
Also, as CARICOM will celebrate its 30th Anniversary on July 4, 2003, a programme of commemorative events will be launched this month, continuing for the remainder of the year.
The major focus will be on the Youth of the Community. Other details will be made available once it is approved by the Heads at the Inter-Sessional Mr. Mitchell said.
The Minister also traveled to Barbados to visit the Office of the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), and discussed ideas of modernization of the Public Service with its Executive Director, Dr. P. I. Gomez.
He also met Mrs. Dawn Marshall, a Bahamian lecturer at the University of the West Indies, who has researched the impact of Haitian migration to The Bahamas.
They discussed the possibility of a more extensive research on this major issue he said.
By Vanessa Rolle, The Nassau Guardian
