Northern Caribbean Leaders to Discuss Economic Development, Tourism in Grand Cayman

Northern Caribbean Leaders to Discuss Economic Development, Tourism in Grand Cayman

The Caribbean’s top business and political leaders will meet in the Cayman Islands, December 17, for the first annual Northern Caribbean Conference on Economic Development and Cooperation, which will discuss immigration, trade, education and security.

The one-day event, which will be held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Grand Cayman, will be attended by Heads of Government from seven northern Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, Haiti, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, the Bahamas and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

General Manager, Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), Earl Jarrett, described the conference as a timely intervention to explore new trade, investment and educational relationships among northern Caribbean countries.

Other key subjects to be discussed include strategies to tackle the Air Passenger Duty (ADP), imposed by the British government. He reiterated that the massive increase in the APD, imposed on departing passengers by the British government, is having a negative impact on regional tourism.

Speakers at the conference will include Prime Minister of Jamaica, Hon. Bruce Golding; former Prime Minister of Jamaica and Special representative of CARICOM on Haiti, the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson; Premier of the Cayman Islands, Hon. McKeeva Bush; former Prime Minister of Canada, Rt. Hon. Joe Clarke; and Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal, University of the West Indies, Mona, Professor Gordon Shirley.

There will also be a meeting of Tourism Ministers from the region for a concurrent session focused on tourism related matters. It is anticipated that some 100 persons will attend the conference, including leaders or leader representatives from development agencies in the United States and Canada.