Enhancing regional air and maritime transportation are among matters for consideration when CARICOM Heads of Government hold their 30th Inter-Sessional Meeting in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, 26-27 February.
A release yesterday from the CARICOM Secretariat said that Heads of Government will scrutinize recommendations from a Special Meeting of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Transportation, held in St Vincent and the Grenadines on the 18th of February. This COTED meeting dealt with, among other things the Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA), proposals for a regional ferry service and easier security check-in for in-transit passengers. MASA, when established, will serve to maximize the economic and social benefits arising from aviation activities for CARICOM air carriers, the release said.
The Meeting will seek to further advance measurable steps for action on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy which were identified at a Special Meeting of Heads in Trinidad and Tobago in December. These steps include new categories for free movement of persons, Heads of Government engagement with the private sector and labour, and operationalizing the Protocol on Contingent Rights which was signed by ten Member States during and after the 39th Regular Meeting in Jamaica last July. Guyana is still to sign this protocol. Security matters and blacklisting issues affecting Member States are also before the Heads for consideration.
The release said that Heads of Government will also have an exchange of views with the President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid.
It is unclear whether the opposition in Guyana has approached CARICOM for a discussion on the passage of a motion of no-confidence against the government here and the constitutional requirement for general elections in three months from December 21, 2018.
The Meeting, at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino, begins at 9:30 on 26 February with remarks by CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris of St Kitts and Nevis; outgoing Chairman, Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica and CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque.
