Castries - Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) are debating today in this capital issues of regional interest such as development, cooperation and climate change.

The meeting, inaugurated yesterday and to end tomorrow, has the presence of UN Secretary General, António Guterres, is in the context of the 46th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas that gave life to this regional organization.

This treaty was signed in Chaguaramas (Trinidad and Tobago) on July 4, 1973 and entered into force on August 1 of that same year in order to replace the Caribbean Free Trade Association, which led to the creation of Caricom and the Common Market.

In its preamble appear the objectives of Caricom, among which stand out strengthening economic integration through the Single Market and Economy of the region to achieve sustained economic development, fostering economic relations with other nations.

In addition, targets to achieve food security and structural diversification, improving the quality of life of the population; facilitate equitable access of the population to local resources; promote the diversification of the agricultural industry, respecting the environment, among others.

At this meeting in Saint Lucia participants seek strategies for the rebound of the region's economy and in that sense the participants will analyze the implementation of measures to improve the Single Market and the Economy

The Caribbean Community has 15 member states: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, including five associate members: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.