Pubdate: Mon, 31 Mar 2008
Source: Daily Nation (Barbados)
Copyright: 2008, Nation Publishing Co. Limited
Contact:  http://www.nationnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2249

REGIONAL HEADS IN MEET AND GREET

THREE REGIONAL leaders were among guests of honour at a  reception
hosted by United States Ambassador Mary  Ourisman on Thursday night.

St Lucia Prime Minister Stephenson King, Roosevelt  Skerrit of
Dominica and Keith Mitchell of Grenada were  among dignitaries
mingling at Ourisman's residence.

Also in the midst was the United States Assistant  Secretary of State
Tom Shannon, who had a follow-up  meeting to the one which Prime
Minister David Thompson  attended in Washington last week with United
States  President George Bush and Secretary of State  Condeleezza Rice.

Shannon said he appreciated the hospitality and was  grateful for the
opportunity to meet with the heads to  hear their ideas, and to see
how the United States and  the Caribbean could work together.

Prime Ministers Skerrit and King said one of the issues  coming out of
discussions with Shannon, was a  commitment to finding a way to fight
drug trafficking  and crime in the region.

"I indicated to Shannon that while we appreciate the  assistance in
training and other areas, the sharing of  intelligence and of course
the acquisition of assets  are two very important areas where the
United States  can assist the Caribbean region to fight the increase
of incidents of drug trafficking and crime in the  region.

" . . . . They have given us some assurances that they  will certainly
seek to increase their assistance in the  area of intelligence
sharing, and of course the  acquisition of assets to help us fight
crime in the  region," Skerrit stated.

King said it was a "very interesting meeting" and he  was pleased to
attend.

Also mingling among the guests were Opposition Leader  Mia Mottley,
Minister of Trade George Hutson and  Minister of State in the Ministry
of Social Care  Patrick Todd. (YB)
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MAP posted-by: Derek