P.M. wraps up CARICOM conference, heads for Mexico

The 20th annual CARICOM summit ended today in Trinidad and Tobago. CARICOM Heads of Government, including Belize’s Prime Minister Said Musa have concluded that as smaller and poorer nations, they cannot negotiate for markets in traditional ways. This comes after the World Trade Organization ruled that bananas from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries should no longer enjoy the selective markets of the European Union. In response, CARICOM has decided to launch a political offensive in an effort to achieve what they see as fair and just treatment from the world markets. June, 2000 has also been set as the deadline for the removal of restrictions on the movement of skills, capital and labor across the region. Prime Minister Musa will arrive in Mexico City tomorrow for a meeting with President Ernesto Zedillo. There, he will meet a delegation of government officials and members of the business community.