BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders say they are encouraged by statements made by visiting United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, regarding improved relations with the North American country.

Rubio addressed the regional leaders at their 50th regular Caricom summit on Wednesday for just 10 minutes and is holding further deliberations with them as a group as well as bilaterally, before his departure later today.

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that “he made a brief statement…, very encouraging.

“At one point, we were very concerned what the message would have been, but I have to say it is very positive message in terms of helping to secure the future of Caribbean countries, working very closely with Caribbean countries, recognising the fact that we are linked by geography, we are linked by our people.

“The Caribbean has the largest diaspora in the United States, and we are also linked by our common humanity, “ Browne said, adding, “I sense that the statement that he made, through brief, would have signalled a level of commitment to enhance relationship between the United States and Caricom and that itself is encouraging”.

“We will have further discussions…and at that point we will get into more specifics,” he said, adding that the deliberations with the US Secretary of State are expected to last for at least more than an hour.

Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said he, too, was encouraged by the brief encounter the leaders had with Rubio and was looking forward to the engagements later on Wednesday.

“We are looking forward to the more detailed discussions…and we will have an opportunity to engage and to exchange views,” Skerrit said, adding that the regional leaders welcomed Rubio’s visit.

“It’s important that the dialogue can continue. There are a number of hot topic issues that we’ll have to discuss and address and find mutual approaches to them,” Skerrit said, adding, “but I think it is important that we note the positive aspect of his presence in the Caribbean”.

Skerrit said that while he was not willing to share details of the presentation, he believes that the joint Caricom-US discussions will allow for several issues to be raised.

“I’m sure that in some fashion, all of the issues on the Caribbean side and all of the issues on the US side will be raised. That’s the purpose of the engagement,” he said, adding that “I mean, the most important thing, the first step, is that there is dialogue”.