by Arthur Hall (Jamaica Observer) At least 18 international delegations are heading to the island next week to participate in a number of high-level meetings.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith made the announcement on Wednesday during the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing.
According to Johnson Smith, Jamaica will play host to the 26th regular meeting of the Caricom Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) from May 16-17; the 11th United Kingdom (UK)-Caribbean Forum on May 18; and the inaugural Jamaica-UK Strategic Dialogue on May 19.
“With COFCOR, Jamaica will assume its year-long chairmanship at the 26th regular meeting,” said Johnson Smith who noted that the council consists of ministers responsible for foreign affairs in the 14 independent Caricom member states.
It is the organ of Caricom through which the community pursues closer foreign policy coordination.
“The 26th regular meeting of the COFCOR will engage on coordinating regional positions on issues including candidatures, upcoming summits, ministerial meetings, and bilateral and bi-regional relations with extra-regional partners. The situation in Haiti, multilateral and hemispheric relations in the context of the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Association of Caribbean States and climate change [will also be on the agenda].
