President Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding were among the first Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of State to arrive at the BK Quarries Inc. for the two-day retreat that is hoped to be a very productive engagement as leaders evaluate and brainstorm the way forward for the community.
Prime Minister Golding seemed awed by the landscape that overlooks the Mazaruni River and the islands beyond.
Prime Ministers of Dominica, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Antigua and Barbuda subsequently arrived, accompanied by CARICOM Secretary General (ag) Lolita Applewaithe.
At the last Heads of Government meeting, President Jagdeo had offered to host the leaders at the Teperu/Itabu quarries site while making a number of suggestions.
The retreat is being held under the theme “Re-energising CARICOM”, the objective of which is to focus exclusively on giving impetus to the decisions that are needed for the region’s advancement.
Questioned about the appointment of a secretary general to the Community two days before the retreat, President Jagdeo said the topic may be up for discussion but will not be the primary focus. Several names have been proposed for the post. (GINA)