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The effect of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is among topics for discussions at an informal meeting between Caribbean Community (CARICOM) foreign ministers and the United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Barbados today.

A statement from the Guyana-'based CARICOM Secretariat said that the foreign ministers will talk about the oil spill, which followed an explosion on April 20 on an offshore rig belonging to British Petroleum (BP).

"All efforts to stem the flow of oil from the underwater well have failed and there are concerns in the Caribbean that the oil slick will reach its shores eventually, given the flow of currents," said the CARICOM Secretariat.

The statement said that the discussion on the oil spill will be part of a wider agenda item that will also examine energy and climate-change issues.

Haiti reconstruction

"The foreign ministers will also address issues related to the reconstruction of Haiti which suffered a devastating earthquake earlier this year on 12 January," the statement said, noting the involvement of both parties in the reconstruction of the French-speaking CARICOM country.

It said that the meeting, which is expected to last for 90 minutes, will also discuss the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, the impact of the global financial and economic crisis, and health and development cooperation.

Clinton, who is on the last leg of a tour to Latin America and the Caribbean, held talks with CARICOM leaders on security issues during her visit to Barbados yesterday.

"She will be discussing some of the security issues that the Caribbean faces, as well as other items on the agenda, with the Caribbean countries," United States Assistant Secretary of State Dr Arturo Valenzuela said.