CARICOM leaders will discuss a wide range of issues when they meet in Belize this week, including policies to advance the regional response to the mosquito-borne Zika virus.
At least five CARICOM Member States have diagnosed cases of the Zika virus and the Trinidad-based Caribbean Regional Public Health Agency (CARPHA), which has been providing testing and prevention and control guidance to regional countries, is expected to make a presentation to the Caribbean leaders.
The Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said the February 16-17 meeting will also focus on measures to position the region to benefit from the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change, including access to climate finance.
CARICOM leaders are also expected to continue deliberations on the implications for the regional banking sector from loss of corresponding banking relationships.
The meeting in Belize will be addressed by outgoing CARICOM chairman, Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, the incoming chairman and host Prime Minister, Dean Barrow as well as the CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque.
