Guyana's Non-Resident High Commissioner to St Kitts and Nevis, Elisabeth Harper. (Photo by Erasmus Williams)

Guyana’s newly-appointed Non-Resident High Commissioner to the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis, Elisabeth Harper, informed St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas on Wednesday that the Guyana leader, who has responsibility for agriculture, will not attend the meeting.

“President Jagdeo unfortunately would not be able to come for the Heads of Government meeting. Yes, he has many matters of state that are very pressing,” the Guyana diplomat told Prime Minister Douglas during a courtesy call after she had presented her credentials to St Kitts and Nevis' Governor General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian.

Ambassador Harper said the absence of President Jagdeo “is a disappointment because I know that he would have wanted to have at this juncture come to update Heads on the agriculture issues and in particular sugar. But his brief will be presented by Foreign Minister, Rudy Insanally."

Ambassador Harper will also attend the CARICOM meeting which runs from July 3rd to 6th.