KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness will lead a delegation to the 2016 High Level Caribbean Forum to be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Wednesday, November 2.

The one day forum will be hosted by the International Monetary Fund and the Trinidad and Tobago authorities under the theme “Shifting Tides: Challenges and Opportunities”.

According to the news release by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the forum will bring together regional prime ministers, finance ministers and central bank governors, donors, and representatives from international financial institutions and the private sector to exchange views on the unique challenges and opportunities for the Caribbean region.

It will address issues such as: global and regional challenges (growth, competitiveness, and oil prices); spillovers from Cuba, and policies to address de-risking.

Holness is scheduled to present at the first session of the forum.

The prime minister departs the island this evening and is expected to return on Thursday, November 3.

During his absence, Derrick Smith, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister will be in charge of the government.