Briefing the media on several issues coming out of the meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said the heads reaffirmed their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana and Belize, two Caricom countries which have border problems with their neighbours.

The support took into account developments in the controversy with Venezuela based on the report of the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana, which met last September. "Needless to say," Jagdeo said, "this support is much valued."

Meanwhile, he noted Guyana had been a beneficiary of several useful projects under the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) and expects to receive further assistance toward reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

He also said the dialogue with the more developed countries of the Commonwealth generated greater support for special and differential treatment for weak and vulnerable economies such as Guyana.

Describing the CHOGM meeting as a "most successful event in helping Caricom to advance its cause, Jagdeo said Caricom Heads were especially forceful in presenting the region's case for special and differential treatment to meet the region's needs through continued negotiations in the area of trade and economic development.

On the eve of the conference, he said regional leaders had met their African counterparts to discuss how the two regions could work together for their common good. They decided to institutionalise their dialogue on political, economic, and social matters including South-South co-operation.