The Third Meeting of the Caribbean/United States Joint Committee on Development, Finance and Environmental Issues was convened in Washington, D.C., on July 22, 1999, under the Co-Chairmanship of the Hon. Hilroy Humphreys, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Business Development, Antigua and Barbuda, and Mr. John R. Hamilton, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

The Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community at their just concluded Twentieth Meeting of the Conference, reviewed the political situation in Guyana particularly in the context of the commitments undertaken under the Herdmanston Accord and the Saint Lucia Statement, to which they are a Party. The Heads of Government noted with satisfaction the progress being made towards fulfilling some key objectives of the two Agreements and agreed to redouble their efforts to support the process.

A special publication of "On the Canvas of the World", a book which brings together material from two issues of the New World Quarterly first published in 1966 to mark the independence of Barbados, and Guyana, has been released.

As part of the activities to mark the year-long 25th anniversary of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the book which features the writings of some of the Region's most notable literary exponents, is now available in bookstores, and will shortly be distributed to secondary schools throughout the Region.

More than 300 children between the ages of 6 and 12, from schools and institutions across Georgetown romped and frolicked on Saturday, July 17 on the grounds of Colgrain at the First CARICOM Secretary-General's Children's Fun Day to celebrate CARICOM Day 1999..

Host for the event, CARICOM Secretary-General Mr Edwin Carrington said it was a joy being among so many children having a good time. 'These children," he said, "represent the future of our Community and must be central to any plans the Community has for the approaching millennium."

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat will confer long service awards on 30 staff members at a simple ceremony at its Headquarters, Bank of Guyana Building today, Friday July 16.

Topping the list of recipients are Ms Myrtle Chuck-a-Sang , who has given 30 years service, and Mr. Rajpaul Singh and Ms Monica Smith, who are on staff for 25 years.

Seven other staffers with 20 years service, 10 with 15 years and another 10 with 10 years service will receive long service awards.

The Twentieth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), was held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on 4-7 July 1999.

Two of the Caribbean's leading conglomerates signaled their support for the Regional Negotiating Machinery with a significantly sizeable contribution, on the closing day of the 20^th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, in Trinidad and Tobago.

The financial support came from Ansa Mc Cal Group of Companies and Neal and Massay Holdings Ltd, whose Chairman and Director respectively, Mr Anthony Sabga and Asraph Ali, handed over the cheque to Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur.

By the end of the year the legal framework for the functioning of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) should be in place. This announcement was made by the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Owen Arthur, on Monday July 5, the first working day of the 20^th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, now underway in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Chief Minister of Montserrat, the Honourable David Brandt, has praised his CARICOM colleagues for the support given to Montserrat. He specifically referred to the building of houses on the island since the disruption caused by the Lang Soufriere volcano.

Speaking on the first working day of the 20^th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, held in Trinidad and Tobago, the Chief Minister reminded that Montserrat has had a hard time since the Lang Soufriere volcano started to act up about four years ago.