PM off to Suriname for Caricom meeting; McLeod to act as PM

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Jamaican counterpart Port Simpson Miller with acting PM Errol McLeod. Both PM's left Wednesday for Suriname for a CARICOM summit

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is attending the 23rd Inter-Sessional CARICOM Conference, which takes in Suriname on Thursday and Friday.

Heads of governments of all 15 member states as well as those from Associate Member States are expected to attend.

A key agenda issue will be a review of the CARICOM Secretariat, which was commissioned by Heads of Government at their 31st Regular Meeting held in Jamaica, July 2010. The heads will discuss the strategic direction of the community.

A media release from the Office of the Prime Minister Wednesday said the summit will also examine developments related to the regional Crime and Security Agenda.

Other agenda items include the governance of cricket at the national, regional and international levels and CARICOM's support to Haiti.

Persad-Bissessar will play a major role in discussions of issues affecting the region such as sustainable development, including climate change, joint economic ventures for the establishment of CARICOM Enterprises; regional air transportation and matters affecting Community relations.

Labour Minister Errol McLeod is acting Prime Minister until Persad-Bissessar returns home on Saturday at 6:45 am