Havana, December 6 (RHC)-- Economic and trade relations will be among the issues discussed at the Fifth Summit of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba, which takes place this coming Monday here in the Cuban capital.  The summit will be preceded on Sunday by a meeting of foreign ministers. 

In accordance with the Havana Declaration of December 2002, the summit is held every three years on the date that the first four CARICOM countries –- Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago -- established diplomatic relations with Cuba.  That date, December 8th, has been designated CARICOM-Cuba Day.

Monday’s meeting will give the leaders an opportunity to look at the present situation with the trade and economic agreement that the two parties signed in the year 2000.

The two sides will also discuss strengthening co-operation in multi-lateral fora, particularly in light of the on-going global negotiations for a climate change agreement and the upcoming negotiations on the United Nations Post 2015 Development Agenda.

Monday's opening ceremony will reportedly include remarks by CARICOM Chairman Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Cuban President Raul Castro and CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque.