by RICKEY SINGH

BASSETERRE – This week's CARICOM Summit, which will be ceremonially opened today in St Kitts and Nevis, will be marked by two firsts.

The regional leaders have scheduled the first ever prayer breakfast in the 33-year history of CARICOM for tomorrow at the Marriott Resort prior to their first official working session.

General secretary and chief executive officer of the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean, Reverend Gerry Seale, is slated to address the informal prayer and breakfast session.

The summit organisers said this event, arranged in co-operation with the host government of Prime Minister Denzil Douglas and the CARICOM Secretariat, was optional for participating heads of government, but they expected most to attend.

The other "first" takes place at today's ceremonial opening at the headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank where CARICOM Secretary-General Edwin Carrington will join six heads of government in addressing the public event.

Traditionally, no more than four or five speakers have addressed the summit, but in keeping with the custom of including heads of government making their debut, the list was extended to seven.

Speakers will be outgoing CARICOM chairman, Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago; new chairman Douglas; President Rene Preval of Haiti; Vincentian leader Ralph Gonsalves; Jamaica's new Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller and the new Chief Minister of Montserrat, Lowell Lewis.

Leaders are set to deal with issues that include cricket, freedom to travel, culture, health, trade and economic development, crime and security.

Please see also Page 13.