The Caribbean's Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) received a significant boost from the Commonwealth Secretariat (COMSEC) last week when the way was cleared to proceed on three "uniquely Caribbean" studies relating to external negotiations.

The CARICOM Secretariat is concerned by suggestions coming out of Grenada and reported in the regional media that the CARICOM Common Market is not operating in an "equitable manner"

The CARICOM Secretariat wishes to state that all decisions to approve or deny requests for suspensions of the Common External Tariff (CET) are made with strict adherence to the governing rules and procedures established by the Community.

Under Article 32.3 of the Treaty establishing the Caribbean Community and Common Market (the Treaty of Chaguaramas),

CARICOM Heads of Government are keenly interested in greater co-operation among countries of the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Group.

In making this point while addressing the South Pacific Forum Heads of State at Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Honourable Hubert Ingraham said the Caribbean looked forward to the day when the skills, talents, experience and knowledge of the people and institutions of the two groups of States can be placed at the disposal of the two Regions.

The original inhabitants of Dominica celebrate Carib Week from September 14 through 21 under the theme "Striving Together for Progress and Unity".

Historically regarded as the first inhabitants of the Caribbean territory, they now number 3 400 persons living on approximately three and a half acres of fertile land in the north-east side of the island.

The meeting of the Regional Resource Team for Assistance to Montserrat scheduled for Saturday September 13 in Barbados has been postponed.

The postponement is due to the visit to the United Kingdom of Montserrat's Chief Minister the Hon. David Brandt and a team of officials from the island for talks with the British Government at their invitation.

Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Hon Hubert Ingraham will carry the message of ACP unity from the Caribbean to the Pacific when he addresses Pacific leaders in Rarotonga, Cook Islands on September 17.

CARICOM Secretary-General Mr Edwin Carrington has expressed "deep shock and sorrow" at the tragic Haitian ferry disaster which has reportedly claimed more than 400 lives.

Mr Carrington, who spoke with Haitian Foreign Minister M. Fritz Longchamp on Monday, conveyed the Community's profound sympathy to and solidarity with its latest Member State in the aftermath of the incident. Haiti was accepted as a member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) during last July's Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Arrangements for the CARICOM Village at Davy Hill, Montserrat were put on the fast-track following the second meeting of the Regional Resource team for Montserrat on September 24.

Chairman of CARICOM, the Rt Hon. Percival Patterson turned the sod to begin construction of the village on August 25 and the prefabricated housing units are being purchased at concessionary rates from Cuba. The infrastructure for the site of the CARICOM Village is currently being put in place by the British Government.

The Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, meeting in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, on Tuesday, August 26, 1997, expressed its deep regret to the Government and people of Grenada and the family of the late Sir Eric Gairy at the passing of the former Prime Minister of Grenada.