Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT MANDELA'S VISIT TO THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY AND COMMON MARKET (CARICOM), 2-5 JULY 1998
President Mandela will attend the 19th meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) in Castries, St Lucia from 2-5 July 1998, at the invitation of its Chairman, Dr Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada. The CARICOM visit contributes to the multilateral thrust of the President's foreign affairs programme for the year.
On this occassion, CARICOM will also celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established CARICOM.
The importance of South Africa's growing relations with the Caribbean Community will be underscored by the President's visit to the Heads of Government Conference of the Caribbean Community.
CARICOM is a community of Caribbean States which was formed in 1973 by the Treaty of Chaguaramas as a movement towards unity in the Caribbean. The member countries are:
Antigua and Barbuda The Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica Grenada Guyana Jamaica Montserrat St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname Trinidad and Tobago
The British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands are associate members. The Bahamas is a member of the Community but not the Common Market.
In January 1998 a Ministerial Trade and Investment Mission, led by Dr Raphael Fletcher, Foreign Minister of Grenada, visited South Africa and met with political and business leaders including the Deputy President, Mr Thabo Mbeki and the Foreign Minister, Mr Alfred Nzo.
South African exports to the Caribbean region in 1997 reached R 425 million, more than double the figure for 1996. Total imports from the region also showed a strong increase and reached R 112 million. South Africa has developed excellent relations with the Caribbean Group within the framework of the Lom'e Convention and closer economic relations between South Africa and this important region are constantly being forged.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 1 JULY 1998