(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) will examine recommendations to ease the effects of the rising cost of fuel and commodities on the Region’s economies. This matter was first raised at COTED in May last year at the height of the crisis in North Africa which had triggered an increase in the prices of fuel that itself caused a hike in the cost of other commodities.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) In October 2011, I visited Brussels, Belgium to participate in a Meeting of Heads of African, Caribbean and Pacific Group (ACP) Regional Organisations and Chief Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Negotiators. During that Meeting, the Commission of the European Union (EU) provided information that by the end of 2011, the Caribbean Forum of the ACP (CARIFORUM) would have programmed 80% of the Euro 165 million available under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Regional Indicative Programme.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) This is a great pleasure for me, both as the representative of the European Union, a development partner to CARIFORUM and as a strong believer in Regional Integration as an instrument towards achieving sustainable economic development, to be here today.

Indeed, we are about to sign three Financing Agreements for three important programmes which were identified and developed jointly, based on the Region priorities.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) and the European Commission (EC) on Wednesday signed three financial agreements designed to boost the Caribbean Region’s ability to deliver tangible results of integration to its populace.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Regional CMOs focus on HIV Elimination Initiative Strengthening health systems and integrating HIV and STIs services are critical to preventing mother to child transmission and this is the main focus of a three day Special Meeting of Regional Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) taking place in St. Lucia from 19 to 21 March 2012.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and the Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) provides a comprehensive framework to improve the flow of investments between the two parties. This is according to a new report commissioned by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat-based EPA Implementation Unit.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has lauded the former Prime Minister of Grenada, the Rt. Honourable George Ignatius Brizan, CMG, CBE, for his sterling contribution to advancing the democratic principles within the Region.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The 40th joint meeting of the Executive and Education Committees and 9th Practice Committee of the Regional Nursing Body was convened at the CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana, on 14-16 March, 2012.

The objectives of the meeting were to discuss the assistance from the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) in the preparation and administration of the Regional Examination for Nurse Registration (RENR) and to review standards of nursing practice and nursing education.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) A burgeoning relationship between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Republic of Singapore was taken to new heights Wednesday, with the accreditation of the first Plenipotentiary Representative of the Southeast Asian country to CARICOM.

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) His Excellency Kemal Siddique, the first Ambassador of Singapore to be accredited to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), on Wednesday said his appointment was meant to be a signal that “Singapore does not take the support of our Caribbean friends for granted.”