WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that he is looking forward to meeting with leaders from across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), during a visit to Jamaica this week.
Pompeo, who is scheduled to arrive in Jamaica tomorrow, will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Andrew Holness, as he aims to strengthen ties with the region.
Speaking on Friday at the headquarters of the Organisation of American States (OAS), the US Secretary of State said that he will participate in a round table with the foreign ministers of Bahamas, Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia.
“I’ll travel to Jamaica, a good friend of America. My team told me that would be a really tough duty. I’ll gather at an important meeting with many Caribbean leaders to discuss how we can all work together to promote our common democratic values and prosperity for all of our people. I’m looking forward to a fantastic set of meetings,” he said.
Prior to visiting Jamaica, Pompeo will also visit Costa Rica as he seeks to promote “shared priorities” in the fight against terrorism and the strengthening of democracy.
Another issue on the table will be the current situation in Venezuela as the US government leads the international pressure for the departure of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. According to Michael Shifter, who leads the Inter-American Dialogue analysis centre, that Pompeo “will probably seek support from Costa Rica and Jamaica for the re-election of (OAS Secretary General Luis) Almagro,” which he considers “a priority” given his firm stance against Maduro.
This will be Pompeo’s seventh visit to Latin America and the Caribbean. (CMC)
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