Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding will address participants at the plenary dinner tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 4) of 31st annual Miami Conference on the Caribbean Basin to be held at the Hotel Intercontinental in downtown Miami.

Prime Minister Golding is one of several Caribbean region leaders scheduled to speak at the three-day summit “A Region Poised for Growth” which begins today (Dec. 3). The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice is also expected to attend the conference.

Nearly 700 delegates will continue to participate in interactive discussions and workshops to look at issues affecting the region and its economic prospects. The conference will unite leaders from the region’s private and public sectors, government and civic leaders as well as those from the United States of America, Europe, Asia and Central America to discuss topics of interest to the region’s development -health and education, agribusiness, telecommunications, transportation, financial services, and corporate social responsibility and major areas to encourage investments.

The conference will focus on the continued high cost of energy in the region and will also pay special attention to major areas to encourage investments.

While participants will look at the trend in the tourist industry in the region, the subject of disaster responsiveness regarding mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery will be of primary importance.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Ms. Marcia Thomas, Senior Director of Foreign Trade in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Ms. Sancia Templer, Vice President of Jamaica Trade and Invest.