President Bharrat Jagdeo greets Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernández at the National Palace in Santo Domingo on Tuesday.

The cordial and wide ranging discussions addressed relations and cooperation between CARICOM and the Dominican Republic which, in March of this year, re-submitted its application for membership of CARICOM.
In this regard, President Fernandez reaffirmed the interest of his country in membership of the Community with which it shares a number of common concerns and interests. The discussions touched on the effects of the global financial and economic crisis, implementation of the CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed last year, governance of CARIFORUM, security and climate change.

Both Presidents agreed on the need to strengthen relations and build confidence between CARICOM and the Dominican Republic as part of the process of consideration of the request for membership by the Dominican Republic.

To this end, it was proposed that a joint workshop be held on the functioning of the Caribbean Community and that both sides sit together to discuss collaboration in the area of multi-destination tourism and have their private sector organisations explore how best to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the EPA.

The two Heads of State also underlined the importance of strengthening people to people contacts through cultural, sport and academic links. The critical importance of President Fernandez interfacing with his CARICOM colleagues was reiterated.

The Dominican Republic, which sources coconut and wood from Guyana, has a population of nearly 10 million and would represent a very large addition to CARICOM.

After the meeting, Foreign Minister Troncoso announced that it was agreed that in September, Santo Domingo (the capital of the Dominican Republic) would host the workshop.

Foreign Minister Troncoso said that regional drug trafficking issues would be discussed during the meeting, prior to a United Nations-called meeting on the topic.

It was announced that the Dominican Republic is also seeking good governance agreements in both the services and farm sectors.

Travelling with President Jagdeo are Manniram Prashad, Minister of Tourism and Industry and Commerce; Colin Granderson, Assistant CARICOM Secretary-General, Foreign and Community Relations; and CARICOM Foreign and Economic Relations Director, David Hales. (GINA)