BELIZE CITY, Belize:

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads will focus on the effects of the current global economic and financial crises in the region and possible mitigation actions when they meet on Thursday and Friday in Belize City.

The global crisis was discussed last November at a Bureau of Conference of Heads in Antigua and since then, the Bureau received submissions from the Central Banks’ governors which was discussed by the Task Force in Barbados for submission to the Heads.

The Belize conference will also discuss the European Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), as well as the Trade and Development Agreement between Canada and CARICOM. The meeting will also discuss external trade negotiations, and governance of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery.

It is also expected that the CARICOM leaders will discuss the collapse of CL Financial/CLICO and its affects in the region, as well as the fraud investigations being carried out on Allen Stanford, the Texan financier who invested heavily in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as in St Croix in the United States Virgin Islands.

Stanford has been assisting financially in improving grounds and playing facilities for cricket in the region. He was also involved in promoting Twenty/20 cricket.

caribbeannetnews.com