Caricom

General CARICOM Information & Some Other Regional Issues - Montserrat's Volcano Crisis; Guyana's Political Uncertainty, The Pink Mealy Bug & the Issue of Secession

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*JANUARY*		*FEBRUARY*
Prime Minister of Grenada succeeds newly re-elected Jamaican Prime Minister as Caricom Chairman. Caricom receives clearance from Trinidad & Tobago to establish a Caribbean Court of Appeal. Caricom Committee meets on the Reform of Regional Defamation Law. South Africa will consider establishing a Joint Caricom Diplomatic Mission there, following talks between South African Foreign Minister and Caricom Ministers during a recent Caricom trade and Investment Mission there. Caricom tourism officials agree to seriously consider the establishment of a multi-million dollar fund to market the Caribbean as a single destination. Barbados Prime Minister warned there are many hurdles to overcome in the creation of a SME, especially the creation of a common currency. The first meeting of Caricom Ministers of Tourism and Transportation fosters agreement on the need for a joint government/private sector policy for regional tourism A prime ministerial team appointed by Caricom visits Guyana to monitor and hasten implementation of the Caricom-brokered peace accord. At the 9th Meeting of the Caricom-Canada Joint Trade and Economic Committee, Canadian Deputy Minister for the Americas advocates aggressive integration of Caricom and liberalisation of economies. He calls for Caricom to assist Cuba to open its society , encourage greater democracy and ameliorate human rights conditions. 8th Inter-sessional Heads of Government meeting held in Barbados.		A special Caricom meeting in Jamaica, in March, will focus on the jurisdiction of international human rights bodies on death penalty cases. Jamaican Ambassador to the USA Richard Bernal, was elected Chairman of the Caricom Negotiating Working Group on western hemispheric economic issues. CDB President warns Caribbean countries to be cautious of the speed of liberalisation, in light of problems now facing Southeast Asian countries. Caricom women activists meet in Dominica to discuss the benefits obtained from current Lomé Convention trade and aid regime, and to identify key points for inclusion into the new Lomé Convention. Caricom-UK Forum held to discuss a range of issues from economic development and trade diversification , to the environment. The People's Republic of China representative attends China's first CDB Board of Directors meeting.

MARCH		APRIL
Ninth Caricom Heads of Government Inter-sessional meeting in Grenada (2nd-4th March). OECS and Barbados agreement (3rd March) to examine the establishment of a confederation-type arrangement between the countries. Caricom Secretary General reveals Cuba's potential membership to ACP group could face an "insuperable obstacle" from the nature of the Lomé Convention.		Caricom's Secretary General expresses desire that USA Secretary of State will treat a 6th April meeting with Caricom Foreign Ministers in Trinidad as a "most serious event." USA Secretary of State and Caricom Foreign Ministers meet 6th April. Outcome of 6th April meeting - decisions to establish a regional machinery to combat money laundering, second phase of legal enforcement training and opens skies civil aviation agreement proposed by USA. Second Annual CTO Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development. Caricom Civil Aviation Ministers meet (8th April) to discuss USA open skies proposals. OECS and Barbados meeting on Article 56 of the Caricom Treaty. OAS/Caricom technical Cooperation meeting 23rd-24th April.

MAY		JUNE
Barbados charges T&T's denial of work permit to Barbadian journalist is a breech of Caricom's commitment to free mobility of skilled workers. Caricom's Chairman warns the tensions between T&T and Barbados over the work permit issue is detrimental to Caricom integration. Caricom will discuss Haiti's participation in the Single Market and Economy at Suriname's meeting. Foreign Ministers to meet in Suriname. Guyana considering membership in the Regional Security System (RSS). South African president to attend Caricom Heads of Government Meeting in St. Lucia at end of May. Canada to assist Caricom with preparations for FTAA negotiations. Caribbean Island Nations Security Conference (CINSC) 28th-29th May. Caricom Chairman due in Guyana 2nd June to announce Guyana's election audit results.		25th Anniversary of Caricom Nineteenth Heads of Government Conference in St. Lucia - 30th June - 4th July. Guyana's opposition leader invited to "informal meeting" with Caricom Heads of Government during the Conference. The Saint Lucia Statement is signed on Guyana.

JANUARY

Opposition-led demonstrators and political uncertainty take a heavy toll on business in Guyana following contentious 15th December 1997, elections
Guyana's private sector proposes an international audit of votes cast in 15th December, 1997, elections as a solution to mounting civil and political tensions
Guyana's state-run television station and the Pegasus Hotel are fire bombed
Caricom agrees to send a 'peace mission' to diffuse political tensions.
St. Lucia's Prime Minister proposes Caricom setup a system to deal with conflicts emerging from the elections
Businesses close in Georgetown in anticipation of further violent demonstrations and looting as the PNC remains defiant in its rejection of the Janet Jagan government
OAS calls for an end to acts of violence in Guyana
Caricom 'peace mission' brokers a political settlement
Opposition PNC leader praises the Caricom initiative to restore political calm in Guyana
Both the ruling PPP/Civic and the opposition PNC agree to the terms of an accord on elections and scrutiny put forward by the Caricom mission

FEBRUARY

Guyana's opposition PNC accused the government of trying to 'get out' of arrangements for the proposed international audit of the 15th December 1997, elections

MARCH

Caricom team to discuss (3rd March) an audit of elections
Guyana's currency lows are blamed on environment of lingering political tension
Guyana Prime Minister rejects opposition claims that the government is delaying passage of the Election Audit Bill

APRIL

The Government and main opposition PNC party agree to a proposed extension of the completion deadline for the first phase of the election audit underway in Guyana.
UN Secretary General indicates he will keep a close eye on the situation in Guyana.
President Jagan notifies hemispheric leaders to be on the alert for possible political violence in Guyana

MAY

UK Secretary for International Development empahsises need for resolution of Guyana's political crisis.
Jamaican Prime Minster to visit Guyana 29th-31st May, for meeting on political crisis.
Caricom audit team announces end of audit.
Caricom Chairman to announce results of audit, 2nd June

JUNE

Report by Caricom audit team on Guyana's 15th December 1997 elections finds no evidence of fraud.
Guyana's political leaders disagree on audit report.
Protest and violence erupt in Georgetown.
Caricom Heads of Government Conference in St. Lucia to look in Guyana situation.
Opposition leader invited to "informal" meeting with Caricom Prime Ministers during the conference.
The Saint Lucia Statement on Guyana is signed.