FOREIGN Minister, Dr. Rudy Insanally has commended the initiative taken by CARICOM chairman, Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, to convene a two-day emergency session of regional Heads of Government on the impact of the September 11 attacks on the United States.

The CARICOM (Caribbean Community) meeting will be held October 11-12 in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Recalling that a planned Caribbean Summit on Tourism was no longer held, Insanally said the proposed emergency meeting on the U.S. tragedy is timely since the principal target which can be affected is tourism.

He said Guyana will, like other countries scheduled to attend, analyse the likely impact of the attacks on the social and economic sectors of the various countries in the region, express its own views and concerns, and contribute towards the effort to bolster the region's economy.

In its assessment of the social and economic impact, Guyana is also expected to examine what it can do for its people in terms of welfare.

To date, 24 Guyanese have been reported missing and presumed dead after the tragedy and at least one, a former major in the Guyana Defence Force, was hospitalised and had to be treated for smoke inhalation.

Other CARICOM countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, St Lucia and Jamaica have all reported missing nationals.

According to a release issued by the CARICOM Secretariat, the heads at the emergency session are expected to focus on the economic fallout, particularly in tourism, aviation and the financial sectors.

They will also consider the security measures which CARICOM member states must implement "given the overall security considerations with which the region must grapple in the changed global environment following the events" of September 11, the secretariat added.

Measures to address the economic dislocation already being experienced by CARICOM states since the acts of terrorism, as well as to safeguard their security and protect and preserve their economic lifeline, are other areas the leaders are expected to examine.

The release noted that the deliberations will benefit from the report of a meeting of officials due on October 8-9, in which representatives of regional tourism organisations, the airline industry, labour and private sectors and several regional organisations are expected to participate.

Representatives of the regional security organisations are also expected to contribute to the deliberations of the CARICOM heads.

Ministers of Foreign Affairs and their counterparts responsible for aviation, tourism and security will convene a meeting on October 10 at which they will make recommendations to the meeting of the Heads of Government.

Insanally who is expected to chair the Foreign Ministers meeting as Guyana currently holds the chairmanship of that group, said he expects the meeting will examine a basic report prepared by the CARICOM Secretariat to be forwarded to the Heads of Government to consider and develop an action-oriented strategy. - (WENDELLA DAVIDSON).