The CARICOM Secretariat and CARICOM leaders have expressed their shock and sadness over the assassination of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe. The former Japanese leader was shot dead by a gunman during a campaign speech this morning. CARICOM said Mr. Abe is well remembered in the Community since he became the first Prime Minister of Japan to visit the Region and meet with Heads of Government in 2014. The visit strengthened the ties between CARICOM and Japan. It was noted by CARICOM that it was during that visit, the Japanese Prime Minister signaled Japan’s support in recognizing the vulnerability of Small Island and low-lying coastal Developing States (SIDS) and expressed Japan’s willingness to take into consideration issues other than GDP per capita as criteria for determining the provision of official development assistance. It was Prime Minister Abe who, during the Summit in Port of Spain, reset CARICOM-Japan relations by outlining his country’s three-pillar Policy towards the Community. CARICOM said it remains highly appreciative of Mr. Abe’s significant contribution to enhancing relations between the Region and Japan and has extended condolences to the family of the former Prime Minister and the people of Japan.
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