CARICOM leaders will meet Friday to discuss pressing issues such as Haiti’s instability, the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute, and explore regional debt swaps. This meeting occurs before U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Jamaica next Wednesday, where broader discussions on support and relations will unfold.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders are set to convene this Friday before the anticipated visit of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will arrive in Jamaica next Wednesday. According to sources within the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), this meeting is crucial for discussing regional matters, particularly concerning Haiti and the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute.
Prime Minister Stuart Young of Trinidad and Tobago has already engaged in discussions with Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, who chairs CARICOM, to prepare for this significant meeting. Young emphasized Trinidad and Tobago’s unwavering support for CARICOM, indicating they will remain actively involved in the discussions, the details of which remain unspecified.
The CARICOM assembly will address current issues such as the critical situation in Haiti, where criminal factions threaten government stability and elections are slated for November. Tensions regarding the Guyana-Venezuela border, especially concerning the Essequibo region, will also be a focal point, sparked by recent consultations between Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and leaders from both countries.
Moreover, the leaders will explore a potential regional debt swap and the repercussions of new U.S. charges impacting Chinese-built vessels heading to American ports. Recently, it was disclosed that Secretary Rubio will visit the Caribbean for discussions on challenges affecting CARICOM relations with the United States, including matters surrounding Haiti’s security.
The upcoming CARICOM meeting is poised to address several pressing regional issues, notably the situations in Haiti and the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute. With U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s impending arrival, leaders will also evaluate the potential for a regional debt swap and recent developments concerning trade policies. Collectively, these discussions will undoubtedly shape the Caribbean’s diplomatic and economic strategies moving forward.
Original Source: www.jamaicaobserver.com
