PARAMARIBO, Suriname – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders began their two-day mid-term summit today with a review of the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat among the priority agenda items.
Suriname Foreign Minister Winston Lackin said the intersessional meeting, held half-way between the main annual summits in July, will also provide an opportunity for the Dutch-speaking country to further deepen its relationship with members of the 15-nation regional integration grouping.
He said CARICOM leaders appear “excited about initiatives proposed by Suriname, especially the CARICOM Enterprises and the Regional Sports Academy “that had been discussed at the Council of Ministers meeting in Guyana last month.
“And there also seems to be excitement regarding us being the bridge to Latin America, our next frontier. Things are heading in the right direction. We’re not only recognized, but also acknowledged,” Lackin said.
Most of the regional leaders are expected to be present at the summit, with the notable absentee being Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who was returned to power by a slim majority following yesterday’s general election.
A CARICOM Secretariat statement said the “crisp agenda” for the summit “has among its priorities, the Landell Mills review of the CARICOM Secretariat and the strategic direction of the 15-member Community.
The report titled, Turning around CARICOM: Proposals to restructure the Secretariat had been commissioned by regional leaders at their summit in Jamaica in 2010.
The CARICOM Secretariat said the Inter-sessional summit, which will be chaired by President Desi Bouterse, will also discuss recommendations contained to restructure the grouping’s principal administrative body”. (CMC)
