Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs

CARICOM

Role and function of the CARICOM and Caribbean Affairs DivisionThe CARICOM and Caribbean Affairs Division is the focal point for matters pertaining to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the Dominican Republic, Cuba and the Netherlands Antilles.  The Division has primary responsibility for servicing CARICOM and CARICOM-related Meetings, principal among which are the Meetings of the Conference of Heads of Government, the Community Council of Ministers and the Council of Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR).

The Division also services meetings of the other CARICOM Councils.  The principal ACS meetings serviced by the Division are the Summit of Heads of State and/or Government, Meetings of the Ministerial Council and of the Special Committees on Trade Development and External Economic Relations; Sustainable Tourism; Transport; Natural Disasters; and Budget and Administration.

The Division is also responsible for the conduct of Trinidad and Tobago’s bilateral relations with the Member States of CARICOM and other countries in the wider Caribbean region.

The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Unit was merged with CARICOM and Caribbean Affairs Division with effect from 1 February, 2008.