I have paid a short visit to Guyana as a member of the CARICOM Bureau on the eve of the release of the findings of the Audit Team and in continuation of the efforts of the Community to foster understanding, mutual trust and harmony in this country.

During my visit I held consultative meetings with the various political leaders and other political representatives, private sector leaders, representatives of the trade unions and the religious community as well as media bosses and heads.

These consultations were extremely useful and informative.

Two significant meetings in the lead up to the XIXth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community take place in Georgetown, Guyana next week.

Chairman of CARICOM, Dr the Hon. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada will formally hand over the CARICOM Audit Team's Report on Guyana's December 15 General Elections on Tuesday June 2, 1998.

The Audit team led by former Trinidad and Tobago Appeal Court Judge Mr Ulric Cross completed its assignment within its extended deadline of May 31, 1998. The audit was one of the terms agreed to under the Herdmanston Accord, which was negotiated between a three-man CARICOM Mission, headed by Sir Henry Forde of Barbados, and the parties that contested the General Elections.

The Inaugural Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) was held in Paramaribo, Suriname on 12-13 May, 1998. The Council was established by Article 8 (b) of Protocol I amending the Treaty of Chaguaramas. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs attending were_ the Hon. Janet Bostwick, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister with responsibility for CARICOM Affairs, The Bahamas; the Hon. Billie A. Miller, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and International Transport, Barbados; the Hon. Dean O.

Ministers of the Caribbean Community's second highest organ - The Community Council, will tomorrow begin a two-day meeting at the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.

Ministers will consider the draft Rules of Procedure for the Community Council, and are expected to adopt the final rules which will guide the Council in its future deliberations.

The CARICOM Council for Human and Social Development has set the goal for the elimination of Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome from the Caribbean Community by the end of the year 2000.

The Resolution, passed at the first Ministerial Meeting of COHSOD, held at the Crowne Plaza Kingston Hotel, from Monday, 20 April to Tuesday, 21 April, noted the high economic and social costs to the Region, if the Rubella virus was left unchecked. The Meeting was chaired by Jamaica Health Minister, the Hon. John Junor.

1. On 17 April 1998, on the eve of the Second Summit of the Americas, His Excellency the President of the Republic, Eduardo Frei, met with the Heads of States and Governments of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Specially invited to this Meeting was the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).