BRIDGETOWN: The Caribbean Community Council will hold a day-long session in Barbados today (Friday) in preparation for next month’s meeting of Heads of Government in The Bahamas.

As the second highest organ of the 15-member Community — after the Heads of Government Conference — the Council has the responsibility to approve the agenda being prepared by the Georgetown-based Secretariat for consideration by the two-day meeting of CARICOM leaders to take place in Nassau from March 7.

Among reports the Community Council would have received ahead of today’s meeting will be those from the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COSHOD) and the Council for Human Resources and Social Development (COSHOD).

At least two of the reports are expected to address critical current issues relating to the escalating cost of living and related arrangements for adjustments to the Common External Tariff (CET), as well as concerns over health problems in the context of functional cooperation in the region.

The meeting is also expected to discuss the impact on the region’s social and economic development by the alarming crime situation affecting various member-states of the Community.

Preparations for a second “Conference on the Caribbean” in the USA, in June this year in New York — as a follow-up to the inaugural event in Washington last year — and the region’s involvement in the 10th CARIFESTA to be hosted in Guyana from August 22-31 will also be part of the Council’s work agenda.

The Council is normally comprised of Ministers responsible for Community Affairs and any other cabinet member designated by partner states.

According to the CARICOM Secretariat, it holds “primary responsibility” for development of “strategic planning and coordination” in the areas of economic integration, functional cooperation and external relations. (RICKEY SINGH).