The meeting is scheduled to take place on 11th June at the St. Kitts Marriott and will see a number of sessions taking place in the day and according to Minister of Trade and Commerce, Dr. Timothy Harris, the evening session will feature discussion on the BAICO/CLICO situation.
“In the meeting for the Gala Dinner, we are expecting to discuss the debacle involving British American Insurance/CLICO and to look at what has happened in other regions of the CARICOM member states as they attempt to address this matter. This matter, of course, is of high importance in that we are talking about nearly $1 billion at stake for the OECS countries, that it is a matter that concerns not just members of the OECS but also Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, and so it has regional interest.”
While he did not give a name, Dr. Harris told MiyVue.com that a “very distinguished personality out of Trinidad” will be attending the Gala Dinner as the special guest who will address the gathering specifically on the aforementioned topic.
The hosting of Private Sector Meetings began as a result of concerns expressed at the CARICOM level about the need to find an occasion where both the private and public sectors can gather and discuss matters of mutual interest and concern.
At the 6th annual meeting, Dr. Harris expressed, representatives from across the Caribbean region, South Africa and other territories are expected to be represented and issues which would be discussed at the event include tourism development, alternative energy development, update on a number of trade agreements, and matters of concern to the small manufacturers.
It is hoped, as the Minister of Trade and Commerce explained, that as a result of the meeting, “we can have models for private/public sector action and partnerships on a range of matters…”
“We are looking forward to a very interesting and a very productive 6th annual meeting taking place,” Dr. Harris expressed.