CARICOM Focused on Poverty
Leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) centered their attention on a "new manner of thinking focused on socio-economic development and relieving poverty."

Consensus was achieved during a meeting of ministerial sub committees for Trade Negotiations and Caribbean Single Market Economy (MEUC) held last week in Montego Bay.

"In these times of change we must build new means of communication, primarily where we could have national disagreements," stated Portia Simpson, Jamaican prime minister adding that relieving poverty is a priority objective in the region.

Ministerial sub committees were formed for MEUC trade negotiations and involved governments agreed to eliminate import tariffs to boost business and services.

This would allow capital to move in the area without any form of restriction. They also analyzed a regional passport.

A precursor to MEUC is the Caribbean Single Market, whose signatories are Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, San Cristobal and Nevis, Saint Lucía, Saint Vicente and the Grenadines.