Prime Minister Spencer and Commonwealth Secretary General the Rt. Hon. Don McKinnon at the United Nations recently. View photo »

Prime Minister the Hon. Baldwin Spencer today arrived in London on his way to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which opens on Friday on the Mediterranian Island of Malta, which is located south of Sicily Italy.

Tomorrow before departing for Malta, Prime Minister Spencer will join his other CARICOM Heads in a meeting with Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair at number 10 Downing Street.

Prime Minister Spencer along with Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Patrick Manning will make presentations during the meeting on Security and Stability and lead discussions on the UK Caribbean Forum Framework Agenda for the next Biennium including a review of priority issues related to security and HIV/AIDS pursued for the 2004-2005 biennium.

Other issues on the agenda include Europe's Role in the World, Economic Reform including the Doha Development Agenda and Social Justice lead by Prime Minister Arthur of Barbados, Climate Change lead by Prime Minister Musa of Belize and Africa lead by Prime Minister Patterson of Jamaica.

The CARICOM Heads and Prime Minister Tony Blair will also look at a proposal by Canada for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to address the issue of "The Responsibility to Protect."

Prime Minister Spencer is also expected to raise with the UK Prime Minister the issue of UK Pensioners residing in Antigua and Barbuda and their campaign to receive their full pensions from the United Kingdom.

Following the meeting with the British Prime Minister, Prime Minister Spencer along with UK High Commissioner His Excellency Dr. Carl Roberts will travel to Malta where they will first attend the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting.

Some of the major issues to be addressed at the Foreign Ministers Meeting include the Implementation of Small States Agenda by Partner Organisations and the Digital Divide: Networking the Commonwealth for Development.

The Commonwealth Heads Meeting which opens on the 25th of November will address issues such as the outcomes of the United Nations 2005 World Summit, the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Corporation and the Promotion of the Commonwealth's Fundamental Political Values.

While in Malta, Prime Minister Spencer and other Commonwealth Heads will be the special guests at receptions hosted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the II, Commonwealth Secretary General the Rt. Hon. Don McKinnon, Prime Minister of Malta the Hon. Dr. Lawrence Gonzi and President H.E. Dr. Edward Fenech-Adami of Malta.

Finance and Economy Minister Dr. the Hon. L. Errol Cort is acting as Prime Minister in the absence of Prime Minister Spencer and Deputy Prime Minister Willmoth Daniel who is also off island.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs the Hon. Justin Simon is the Acting Minister of Works, Transportation and the Environment in the absence of the substantive Minister.

Prime Minister Spencer returns to the country on November 29.

Digital photo by Maurice F. Merchant