Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Bureau recommends institutionalisation of meetings between Parliamentary Opposition and CARICOM Heads
10-20-2006

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: Recommendations from the Georgetown-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat on the relationship between Caribbean Heads of Government and the Leaders of the Parliamentary Opposition have been endorsed by the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government at their 21st Meeting in St Kitts on Tuesday.

Current CARICOM Chairman, St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas at a press briefing Tuesday evening said the recommendations would now be forwarded to the Caribbean leaders for discussion at the 28th Conference of the Heads of Government to be held in St Vincent and the Grenadines next year.

“The important dialogue which we believe is absolutely necessary between Governments and the Parliamentary Opposition should in fact institutionalised and we would want to ensure that we continue to provide relevant information to the Parliamentary Opposition that would prepare them to appropriately be a part of the important decision making process as we advance the Caribbean Community to achieving our specific goals and objectives on behalf of the people of the Caribbean Region,” said Douglas, who added that the dialogue with the Parliamentary Opposition has now become an important part of the Heads of Government interaction with civil society.

Besides Douglas, the Bureau Meeting at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank was also attended by Incoming Chairman, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves; Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning, St Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr Kenney Anthony; Barbados Deputy Prime Minister, Mia Mottley and CARICOM Secretary General, Dr Edwin Carrington.