Port of Spain, July 29 (PL-RHC) -- Japan will donate 15 million US dollars to help the member countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to cope with the impact of climate change.

Under the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership programme, Japan will initially assist Guyana, Granada, Jamaica, Suriname, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Dominica and Belize to build the capacity to address the ravages of the phenomenon.

The agreement was signed Monday as part of the first Japan-CARICOM Summit, attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and several heads of governments of Caricom member countries.

Abe began an official two-day visit to Trinidad on Sunday and has held talks with his Trinidadian peer, Kamla Persad Bissessar.

They discussed various issues, including a possible Japanese investment in this oil-rich Caribbean territory, as well as the possibility that Port of Spain open an embassy in Tokyo.

This first joint summit is expected to deepen bilateral co-operation and will be closing a series of meetings of its kind between CARICOM and several partners.