Basseterre, St.Kitts – Nevis, July 19th 2007 (CUOPM)
St. Kitts and Nevis‘ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas is among Caribbean leaders in Bridgetown, Barbados, meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister the Right Hon. Stephen Harper.
The Canadian Prime Minister is expected to touch on the Canadian policy to the Western Hemisphere and the position of the Caribbean in this new policy approach.
The role of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in this new approach in which focus will be placed on regional institutions and regional development and the developments in the hemisphere and the role/situation of Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti and Canada’s support for the CARICOM project in Haiti are among issues for discussion.
Caribbean leaders will meet informally with the Canadian Prime Minister of their interest in making the Caribbean-Canada relationship more relevant.
CARICOM is expected to focus on making the developments in the Community, in particular the establishment of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy with the emphasis being placed on functional cooperation to create a Community.
Caribbean leaders in Barbados for the meeting were holding consultations Thursday morning to prepare for the exchanges with the Canadian Prime Minister.