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Saturday, May 10, 1997

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Trip to Mexico, Costa Rica, and Barbados

Today on the Trip
Saturday, May 10, 1997


On Saturday, May 10, President Clinton spent the day in Barbados, meeting with Caribbean leaders. Major events of the President's day included:

Caribbean Summit
Reception and Lunch with Leaders
Bilateral Meeting with President Preval of Haiti
Embassy Staff Meet and Greet

Caribbean Summit

President Clinton attended the Caribbean Summit. It was the first time an American President has met with the Caribbean heads of government in the Caribbean region itself. Each Caribbean nation was represented by its head of government. Leaders attending included:

Prime Minister Lester Bird of Antigua and Barbuda
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham of the Bahamas
Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados
Prime Minister Edison James of Dominica
Vice President Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal of the Dominican Republic
Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada
President Samuel A. Hinds of Guyana
President Rene Preval of Haiti
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson of Jamaica
Prime Minister Denzil Douglas of St. Kitts and Nevis
Prime Minister Vaughn Lewis of St. Lucia
Prime Minister James Mitchell of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Prime Minister Jules Wijdenbosch of Suriname
Prime Minister Basdeo Panday of Trinidad and Tobago

During the Caribbean Summit the leaders discussed ways to increase regional cooperation on issues such as security and law enforcement, trade and development, counternarcotics, money laundering, and the environment. The leaders also discussed economic diversification and efforts to enhance regional economic integration. After the Summit, the leaders traveled to the Prime Minister's residence, Ilaro Court, for a press conference and signing ceremony.

Reception and Lunch with Leaders

After the press conference, President Clinton attended an informal lunch with the other summit participants.

Bilateral Meeting with President Preval of Haiti

President Clinton met with President Preval to applaud Haiti's participation at the Caribbean Summit and to encourage Haiti to develop closer ties with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations. (CARICOM was formed in 1973 to facilitate the economic and political integration of the English-speaking Caribbean states.) Presently, Haiti maintains observer status in CARICOM and is the sole francophone state participating in the predominantly Anglophone organization.

Embassy Staff Meet and Greet

President Clinton met with U.S. Embassy staff and families in Barbados at the American Ambassador's Residence, "Las Cibeles" (Las Sea-BELL-es). Following an introduction by Ambassador Jeanette Hyde, the President delivered brief remarks.

Embassy Bridgetown has a strong regional focus. The U.S. Embassy in Barbados currently is accredited to seven independent nations of the eastern Caribbean (Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) and provides consular services to American citizens in the nearby European dependent territories.

Friday, May 9, 1997
Thursday, May 8, 1997
Wednesday, May 7, 1997
Tuesday, May 6, 1997

President Clinton's Trip to Mexico, Costa Rica, and Barbados


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Saturday, May 10, 1997

Friday, May 9, 1997

Thursday, May 8, 1997

Wednesday, May 7, 1997

Tuesday, May 6, 1997