HC Deb 13 February 1978 vol 944 c4W
Mr. Berry

asked the Minister of Overseas Development which countries she visited on her recent Caribbean tour; what were the criteria on which she decided which countries to omit from the tour; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs. Hart

I visited Costa Rica, Venezuela, Guyana, Barbados and Jamaica. I should have liked to visit other countries but this was not possible in the two weeks available. I visited Costa Rica at the President's invitation, and took the opportunity of discussing there and in Caracas the outcome of the recent World Bank conference on aid to the Caribbean. The greater part of my tour was spent in Guyana, Barbados and Jamaica, with all of which we have a close and long-standing aid relationship.

I was struck by the present severe economic difficulties of the Caribbean countries, and am convinced of the need for international action to alleviate them with a view to creating the conditions in which democratic government can survive and flourish. In such action, as I showed by the two aid agreements I signed in Guyana and Jamaica, we are very ready to play a full part

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