Secretary-General visits Caribbean

The Secretary-General also inspected the devastation in Grenada caused by Hurricane Ivan in September.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon has held discussions with Heads of Government, Leaders of the Opposition and Foreign Ministers during his trip to the Caribbean. Mr McKinnon has visited The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda from 1 to 6 December.

He highlighted Commonwealth cooperation on Small States in the lead up to the January 2005 International Meeting on Small States (Barbados +10), in Mauritius.

The Secretary-General also inspected the devastation in Grenada caused by Hurricane Ivan in September. The Commonwealth has played a key role in mobilising international support for Grenada and Mr McKinnon, will be taking forward a Commonwealth aid programme to fast track the reconstruction process. The Commonwealth Secretariat has pledged in excess of £1 million in technical cooperation assistance over the next three years. This includes support for the establishment of an Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD); revitalisation of the nutmeg industry; petroleum sector development; and legal drafting of reforms related to the recovery programme.

The Secretary-General's visit comes before a major regional workshop on Roles, Rights and Responsibilities of Government and Opposition, which the Secretariat will be holding in Trinidad and Tobago in February 2005; and the International Meeting on Small States. Both are important events on the Commonwealth calendar.

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