Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, travels to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad today July 3, 2013, to attend the 34^th Conference of Heads of Government (CHOGM) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) July 4-6.

This will be Mr. McLaughlin’s first CARICOM Heads of Government meeting as Premier. At the invitation of Trinidad Prime Minister, Hon. Kamla Persad Bisessar, who presently holds the chairmanship of CHOGM, he will take part in the meetings and 40^th anniversary celebrations of CARICOM and will be afforded an opportunity to address the conference as the Community’s most recently elected Head of Government.

Issues on the conference agenda include the regional economy, transportation, an upcoming meeting on persons with disabilities and special needs, proposals for closer union of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the United Nation’s post-2015 development agenda and ongoing reform of CARICOM including expansion of its full and associate membership.

CARICOM, a regional grouping of 15 countries, counts among its associate members five British Overseas Territories, including the Cayman Islands, which joined in 2002.

The Premier will be accompanied by the Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Samuel Rose and will return to Cayman on Saturday July 6, 2013.