Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting Postponed
17 September 2001
This year's Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting (FMM) scheduled for 25-26 September 2001 in St Lucia has been postponed indefinitely. This follows the indefinite postponement, in the light of recent tragic events, of the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in the United States of America.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon and Prime Minister Kenny Anthony of St Lucia have reluctantly agreed to postpone FMM after informal consultations with a number of governments. The deliberations of the Finance Ministers Meeting would have been closely linked to proceedings in Washington D.C. commencing that weekend.
Mr McKinnon said: "Although this year's FMM is on hold, I would like to point out that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, in Brisbane (6-9 October 2001) will provide an opportunity for Commonwealth leaders to discuss important economic and financial issues. I am confident that they will wish to make a strong statement urging co-ordinated action to ensure that the world economy does not experience a sharp downturn. It will be particularly important that the major industrial countries adopt appropriate monetary and fiscal policies and that all countries resist protectionist pressures."