The Prime Minister, who will address the development of a regional
strategy for the use of Information Communication Technology for the
advancement of the region, is accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Peter
David, Foreign Service Officer, Cyrilla Steele and Ken Sylvester, Chief
Executive Officer of the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network
(CKLN).
High on the agenda for the four day meeting will be the impact on and
response to the global financial and economic crisis, with Prime
Minister Hubert Ingraham of the Bahamas addressing developments in
tourism, host President Bharat Jagdeo focusing on agriculture and Prime
Minister Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda addressing regional
food security.
Prime Minister Thomas will address the opening ceremony of the
conference on July 2nd, 2009. He will call for the deepening of the
integration process and the strengthening of the Caribbean Community in
all of its dimensions to respond to the challenges and opportunities
presented by the global economy.
“Discussions must be focused on ensuring new commitments and
fulfillment of those already made, to assist in implementing programmes
aimed at stabilisation and offsetting the immediate and medium-term
negative impacts of the crisis,” the Prime Minister will tell his
colleagues in Georgetown.
The Prime Minister will also address the need for a coordinated
position on climate change ahead of the international negotiations in
Copenhagen, Denmark which is expected to culminate in a new
intergovernmental regime to address causes and impacts of Climate
Change.
The Prime Minister’s position is bolstered by the fact that Grenada
chairs the Association of Small Island States (AOSIS), which is pushing
for greater commitment from developed countries on the reduction of
green house gas emissions, thereby slowing the effects of Climate
change.
As a result of the attendance of Grenada’s delegation to the Meeting of
CARICOM Heads in Guyana, Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Michael Denis
Lett has been appointed as Acting Prime Minister, Minister for Health,
Hon Karl Hood is acting Foreign Minister and Hon. Glynis Roberts has
been appointed acting Tourism Minister.
Richard Simon
reports
