BBC News Online. Thursday, 6 July, 2000, 00:46 GMT 01:46 UK

Leaders of the Caribbean Community, Caricom, have signed a trade treaty with Cuba at the end of their summit meeting in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Under the agreement, the fifteen members of the group will be allowed to export goods to Cuba duty-free and they will develop joint projects in areas such as tourism.

In a written statement to delegates, the Cuban president, Fidel Castro, said the pact showed the unity of Caribbean countries.

Correspondents say the treaty is an indication that relations between Cuba and its neighbours have warmed to the point where Caribbean countries are willing to defy the United States, which for decades has fought to curb Cuba's influence in the region. During the summit, the leaders also discussed the territorial dispute between member countries, Guyana and Surinam, and the contested elections in Haiti.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

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