KAMLA PERSAD-BISSESSAR will not attend what would have been her first Caricom meeting since becoming prime minister for the second time. It's a move which former foreign and Caricom affairs minister Dr Amery Browne believes sends "all the wrong signals" to regional partners.

The 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community will take place from July 6-8 in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

A release from the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs on July 5 said its minister, Sean Sobers, would lead the delegation which includes Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander, the ministry's acting permanent secretary Randall Karim, Caricom Ambassador Ralph Maharaj and Caricom and Caribbean Affairs director Ayesha Wharton.