Montego Bay, July 6 (RHC)-- The 39th Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is coming to a close this Friday after three days of intense deliberations on crime and violence in the region, climate change, disasters risk reduction, and the regional market.

On Thursday, Cuban President Miguel Diaz Canel attended the event as a special guest and fulfilled an extensive work program that included a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, reports Prensa Latina news agency.

During the discussions Prime Minister Holness noted that Jamaica is grateful for the support received from the Cuban Government in the fields of education, health and energy, in the meantime, the Cuban President thanked Jamaica for its friendship over the years.

Diaz-Canel also participated in a working lunch with the Caribbean leaders, where an exchange took place on key issues affecting the entire Caribbean region.  During the session, the Cuban leader reiterated the island's solidarity with its Caribbean sister nations and its commitment to reinforce ties in all possible sectors.   He also conveyed a message of friendship from Cuba's Communist Party leader, Raul Castro.

On Friday, the dignitaries are holding a meeting behind closed doors, and then have an exchange with the president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, with whom they will also have a working lunch.

The Cuban president is in Jamaica for the first time since assuming office in April this year.