Prime Minister Perry Christie is in St. Vincent and the Grenadines today after leaving yesterday with a ministerial delegation to attend the 25th Inter-Sessional meeting of the heads of government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

The meetings will take place today and tomorrow.

High on the agenda will be advancing the regional agenda for sustainable development using information and communication technologies.

Other agenda items include the economic situation facing member states and the region; a framework for regional growth and development; and the reform process in CARICOM; status of the draft five year strategic plan.

Discussions will also be held on citizen security; negotiations for a CARICOM-Canada trade and development agreement; positioning CARICOM in the forthcoming climate change deliberations; criteria for membership and associate membership of the community; ruling of the Dominican Republic constitutional court on nationality; issue of reparations for native genocide and slavery; preliminary discussion on the use of marijuana for medical/health purposes; and border issues.

Accompanying the prime minister is Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell, Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson and various government aides.

Minister for Financial Services Ryan Pinder, High Commissioner to CARICOM Picewell Forbes, and the Acting Director of Trade Keva Bain travelled ahead of the prime minister on to participate in 16th Meeting of COFAP Ministerial Session on regional trade issues.

The prime minister and his delegation are scheduled to return to Nassau on Wednesday.