United States President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet with the fifteen Heads of State and Foreign Ministers of Caribbean islands at the first-ever Conference on the Caribbean which will take place in Washington DC from June 19-21, 2007. This was disclosed by St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Ellsworth John who is Chairman of the Caucus of CARICOM Ambassadors while addressing a town hall meeting at the West Indies Social Club in Connecticut on Friday 30th March.

According to Ambassador John, the meetings with the US President and Secretary of State are intended to establish the highest political commitment on behalf of the United States and CARICOM Member States to a consensus based programme to stimulate growth, development and enhanced security in the region. The Conference on the Caribbean is the largest and most significant event to be staged in recent memory focusing on the future of the CARICOM States which form the “third border” with the United States of America.

The Ambassador added that this historical conference will bring together for the first time policy markers, international financial institutions, the academic community, private and public sector leaders and people of the Caribbean and the United States in one forum to examine the growth and development of the Caribbean community from a regional perspective.

During the three-day conference, US President will hold high-level talks with CARICOM Heads at the White House. Ambassador John disclosed that CARICOM Foreign Ministers will meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to discuss a number of matters related to the Caribbean including economic and trade goals, an expansion of cooperation on education initiatives, an examination of the potential for expanded collaboration in border security, a review of energy goals and issues of energy security and development assistance.

Barbados Ambassador Michael King who is the Chair of the CARICOM CAUCUS Working Group on the Diaspora Forum and Dialogue told the audience that the Diaspora Dialogue is key to the success of the Conference which is structured to maximize interaction between members of the Caribbean Diaspora and the policy makers from both regions. Ambassador King emphasized that it is important that the various Caribbean communities throughout the United States are sensitized about this important event as they have a key role to play by making suggestions on topics that they would like to see addressed at the fora. He urged to them to respond to the Call for Papers which will be discussed at the Conference.

In his brief remarks, Dean of the CARICOM Caucus of Ambassadors Grenada Ambassador Denis Antoine said that “the Caribbean is transforming around the common vision embodied in the creation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, functional cooperation, security and coordination of international relations.” He added that “there is an opportunity to build on the currently prevailing patterns if diaspora engagement to move to even more exciting possibilities. If this engagement is to have long term viability, its must be mutually beneficial.”

Executive Director of Foreign and Community Relations, CARICOM Secretariat, Ms. Fay Housty also addressed the forum.

Among the highlights of the three-day Conference will be a Private Sector Dialogue, meetings with Caribbean exporters, a Diaspora Forum, a Caribbean Showcase and Exhibition, a Congressional Luncheon and a Caribbean Extravaganza featuring the best of Caribbean culture. The Caribbean Heads are also slated to have discussions with officials of the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Organization of American States (OAS).

Similar town hall meetings were held over the weekend in Philadelphia and New York. Other meetings are planned to sensitize the Caribbean Community in the United States on the upcoming conference are scheduled for Atlanta, Miami, Houston and Los Angeles.

Washington, DC
Derrick A. Scott