Home Affairs Minister David Burch yesterday briefed the Senate on the proceedings of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, which was held in Jamaica earlier this month.

Senator Burch attended the meeting on behalf of the Premier, in Bermuda's capacity as Associate Member of the regional body.

The effect of the global economic downturn on the Caribbean was prominent on the agenda.

"Heads of Government recognised that tourism-dependent countries in the Caribbean were still struggling to achieve positive economic growth," Minister Burch told senators.

"In addition the Caribbean rate of recovery in the short and medium term is threatened by a number of factors, including its own significantly high levels of debt."

The conference, attended for the first time by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, also discussed the situation in Haiti and the progress of the recovery effort after last year's earthquake.

Sen. Burch continued:

"The need for the region to accelerate the development of a major CARICOM Aid for Trade Project that would have widest impact on the Region for submission to international development partners was emphasised.

"They acknowledged the importance of deepening trade and economic relations with traditional partners and agreed the Community would remain open to securing new market opportunities, particularly in this hemisphere."