CARICOM holds talks with Aruba on associate membership

ORANJESTAD - Caribbean Community (CARICOM) secretary-general Irwin LaRocque met on Wednesday with Prime Minister of Aruba, Evelyn Wever-Croes, on associate membership in the Community for the Dutch territory. The secretary-general will also visit Curacao and St Maarten this week.

CARICOM heads of government earlier this year mandated the secretary-general to begin the process of negotiations with the Dutch territories in order to better determine their expectations of associate membership, and what benefits the relationship could yield for the Community.

The heads of government have also agreed to continue to examine the issue of an enlargement policy for CARICOM, which currently has 15 full members and five associate members.