Tomorrow’s ceremonial start of the Caribbean Community's 29th annual summit in Antigua and Barbuda is scheduled to be a three-hour affair with a blend of political statements by five Heads of Government, honouring of a quartet of distinguished Community nationals and cultural performances.

The venue for the event is the Sandals Grande Hotel, where assembled delegates, officials and special guests will hear of some of the critical issues facing Caricom, now marking its 35th anniversary.

Heads of Government to address the opening ceremony will be outgoing Community chairman, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, of The Bahamas; incoming new chairman and summit host Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, of Antigua and Barbuda; the newest Prime Minister, Belize's Dean Barrow; Jamaica's Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo.

Secretary General of the Community, Edwin Carrington, will also address the gathering.

Another highlight of the occasion will be the honouring of four West Indian icons with Caricom's most prestigious award-Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC). The recipients are noted novelist and social commentator George Lamming, cricket legend Brian Lara, prominent educator and exponent of West Indian culture Rex Nettleford and the highly respected jurist Nicholas Liverpool.