GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has agreed to convey to the European Union (EU) certain critical concerns of regional leaders about the ongoing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations.

CARICOM leaders held talks with Brown at the just-concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Uganda during which they put forward "critical concerns in respect of the EPA negotiations," said a statement from the CARICOM secretariat over the weekend.

The EPA is scheduled to be completed by December 31, replacing the trade regime under the Cotonou Agreement, which is a trade and aid package between the European Union and its former colonies in the African, Caribbean Pacific group of countries.

Nine of the 12 CARICOM heads of government whose countries are members of the Commonwealth participated in the CHOGM in Kampala from November 23-25. Two others were represented by the deputy prime minister and the other by the foreign affairs and foreign trade minister.

In the communiqué issued at the conclusion of the meeting, the Commonwealth leaders reiterated their support for the territorial integrity of Belize and Guyana in respect of their border disputes with Guatemala and Venezuela, respectively.

Broad discussion

Leaders also discussed issues ranging from climate change through to the situation in Pakistan and to the choice of a new Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma, hailing from India.

The CARICOM Heads of Government also joined their other colleagues in saying farewell to the outgoing Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon.

The leaders praised him for his outstanding service to the Commonwealth and particularly for his work on small states issues.