Belize prepares for CARICOM meeting

Over the weekend, prime ministers and presidents from throughout the Caribbean and Central America will begin arriving in Belize as part of the intercessional meeting of the conference of CARICOM Heads of Government. Today News 5 spoke with Belize’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Assad Shoman, who says while discussions will focus on topics like the single market and economy, the people will take precedence.

Assad Shoman, Min. of Foreign Affairs

“One of the issues that will be discussed is a question of what trade agreement of any kind can be made between the two sub-regions. And then, there are a number of other issues that have to do with co-operation really, between the two regions. But generally, it will be to see how we can help to involve the people of the Caribbean more in the work process. Another major area of course, is the whole question of crime and security, and that is going to be very high on the agenda. We have several documents that will be discussed and so on. And then, another point that came in, which kind of moves us into the second conference, is that part of Prime Minister Musa’s objective is to see how he can move forward the process that has been going on for some time of bringing closer the peoples and governments of the Caribbean and of Central America.”

According to Shoman, on Sunday the leaders will participate in a retreat before getting into the plenary proceedings on Monday. News 5 will have extensive coverage of the summit.