Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders yesterday opened a new round of co-operation talks with neighbour Cuba, aimed at strengthening their relationship and finding regional solutions to common problems. The impact of the global economic and social crisis, which has been marked by high energy and food prices, problems of environmental degradation and downturn of major financial centres, highlights the agenda. In addition to discussing regional solutions to these challenges, the leaders are also expected to propose topics for discussion at the Summit on Integration and Development, which is scheduled for December 16-17 in Brazil. On Sunday, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas and other leaders of Caricom states joined Cuban President Raul Castro in a tribute to National Hero Jose Martí and Cuba's greatest general during the war of independence from Spain, Antonio Maceo. The leaders also visited the Eternal Flame dedicated to all the martyrs of the Fatherland. The Secretaries General of Caricom, the Association of Caribbean States and the Organisations of Eastern Caribbean States - Dr Edwin Carrington, Luis Andrade Falla and Dr Len Ishmael - are also in attendance at the meeting. The first summit was held in Havana, Cuba in 2002 and the second in Bridgetown, Barbados in 2005. Reprinted from jamaicaobserver.com