Prime Minister Bruce Golding has urged his fellow leaders within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to display strong leadership in the face of what he has termed a "vortex of the worst global cyclone".

Speaking yesterday during the opening ceremony of CARICOM's 29th regular heads of Government meeting in St John's, Antigua, Golding said, in a fiercely competitive global environment, the challenges of the increases in the cost of living can be better tackled with the cooperation of the Caribbean bloc.

"In this time of crisis, strong leadership is critical," he said.

Golding also reaffirmed Ja-maica's commitment to CARICOM and called for the other leaders to focus on the achievements of the body and not the failures, as they move forward.