Jamaica has led well - Malahoo Forte

Earlier, Jamaica's junior foreign minister Marlene Malahoo Forte told reporters that the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) had had to deal with its fair share of crises, both natural and man made in recent months.

"In spite of these major challenges, however, the community as a collective grouping has been able to weather the major brunt of the storm by working closely together. Our response during the period has certainly demonstrated our commitment to regionalism and, by extension, multilateralism," said Malahoo Forte, who is deputising for Foreign Minister Dr Kenneth Baugh.

Malahoo Forte said Jamaica's response over the past two years had also demonstrated the importance of strengthening and deepening the relationship between CARICOM and third countries.

"This includes playing a key role in facilitating the deepening of our relations with the countries of the hemisphere, including our existing partners such as the United States and Canada and also our neighbours to the south," she said.

Malahoo Forte told reporters that COFCOR, under Jamaica's chairmanship, had been instrumental in the mediation process to reinstate the democratically elected government of Honduras' President José Manuel Zelaya, ousted in a coup in June 2009.

"Though the situation has not yet been resolved, Jamaica remains fully committed to the process and welcomes the establishment of the truth commission in accordance with the recommendation of the San José accord. It is our fervent wish that Honduras will return to full democratic and constitutional order so that it can be reintegrated into the international and hemispheric forum," she said.