Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda anticipating successful Summit of the Americas

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda is anticipating a very successful Summit of the Americas which opens today a the Hyatt Regency Trinidad during an official ceremony.

“The Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the CARICOM Secretariat have worked tirelessly over the past months in order to ensure that the issues of importance to the Caribbean region are fully addressed at this summit. On the margins of the Summit we are looking forward to meetings with President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada, President Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic, and US Congressmen Max Baucus, Charles Rangel and Eliot Engel. This is truly an opportunity for us to address a number of burning issues,” said PM Spencer.

He noted that the proposed meeting with President Obama will address issues such as the global economic and financial crisis with an emphasis on special provisions for Developing Countries, tax haven legislation, regional security and Haiti with special emphasis on the extension of the temporary protected status programme.

It was pointed out that the meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada is expected to address a CARICOM-Canada trade agreement, climate change and the issue of small indebted middle income countries.

Prime Minister Spencer during a briefing session with Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States H.E. Ms. Deborah-Mae Lovell and Minister Counselor Ms. Ann-Marie Layne.
The Meeting with President Fernandez of the Dominican Republic is expected to look at the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement and its implications to member states of CARIFORUM.

The issue of deportation, tax haven legislation and CARICOM-US trade relations are expected to dominate the meetings with the US Congressmen.

The 5th Summit of the Americas will open at five on Friday afternoon with a ceremony that is expected to be addressed by the President of the Argentine Republic, H.E. Ms. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner; President of Nicaragua, H.E. Mr. Daniel Ortega; Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. Dean Barrow, President of the United States, H.E. Mr. Barack Obama and host Prime Minister the Hon. Patrick Manning.

Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation to the summit includes Finance and Economy Minister the Hon. Harold Lovell, Ambassador to the OAS and the United States Deborah Mae-Lovell and Minister Counselor Ann-Marie Layne.