ST.GEORGE’S, GRENADA, APRIL 17th 2009_ Prime Minister Tillman Thomas and his CARICOM colleagues this morning met to agree their positions on some of the critical issues to be discussed at the fifth Summit of the Americas, in Port of Spain which officially begins at 5.00pm today, Friday, April 17th 2009. The meeting discussed common positions on the exclusion of Cuba, global warming and its impact on small countries, a planned meeting with the new United States President, Barack Obama and the Canada CARICOM bilateral meeting. Chairman of the Summit, Prime Minister Patrick Manning called on his colleagues for their support, to ensure no single issue disrupts the smooth flow of the summit. He was particularly concerned about the possible implications of the absence of Cuba and the potential for member states of the Association of Latin American countries (ALBA) to upstage other important issues that will be discussed at the summit. Prime Minister Thomas will on Saturday address a special lunch session of the Summit on the Environment and climate change. He is expected to make a call for his colleagues to provide the “leadership necessary” for the slow down of global warming and its resulting negative impact on the land space and economies of small states, such as Grenada. His address will outline the growing concern about the transfer of millions of dollars to rebuilding following natural disasters rather than the improvement to education, health and other human concerns. The issue will also be raised by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon who will speak following Prime Minister Thomas at the luncheon, which will be attended by the leaders. The Prime Minister is also due to meet with the leaders or designated officials of Costa Rica, Argentina and Chile tomorrow to discuss assistance in the areas of Tourism, Education and Agriculture. The Prime Minister is also slated to meet with US President Barack Obama at a time to be determined at the summit. The US President will speak at the official opening of the Fifth Summit of the Americas this afternoon.