PM Kamla leaves for CARICOM summit Tuesday; McLeod to act as PM

File: PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar with Labour Minister Errol McLeod, who will be acting PM this week

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar leaves for St Lucia Tuesday to attend the 33rd annual Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). During Persad-Bissessar's absence, Labour Minister Errol McLeod will act as Prime Minister.

The summit take place from July 4 to 6 at at Gros Islet under the chairmanship of Dr. Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister of St Lucia. 

The agenda includes the region’s external relations. In that context Caricom's special guests are: 

• Kamlesh Sharma, Secretary General of the Commonwealth
• José Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS)
• Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States 

Persad-Bissessar is expected to hold discussions with her counterparts on matters concerning the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the restructuring of the CARICOM Secretariat.

The summit will also discuss the implications for the region of on-going Geopolitical and Global Economic Developments, an issue which emerged out of discussions in the margins of the VI Summit of the America, which was held in Colombia in April, 2012.

During Persad-Bissessar's absence, Labour Minister Errol McLeod will act as Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is scheduled to return home on Friday, July 6