The panel was chaired by Senator The Hon. Dr. Marcus Bethel, Minister of Health and the Environment of the Bahamas; and The Hon. Bruce Billson, M.P. Parliamentary Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Australia; and moderated by Dr. Len Ishmael, Director General of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.

The following panellists made introductory statements: Mr. Greg Urwin, Secretary- General of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat; Ms. Sonia Elliott, United Nations Liaison with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS; Mr. Curtis Ward, Advisor to the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee; and
Professor Rex Nettleford, Professor Emeritus of the University of West Indies.

The Co-Chairmen and panellists held an interactive discussion on the topic with the representatives of Mauritius, Cuba, France, Puerto Rico, Samoa and Haiti.

The representatives of the following major groups also participated in the discussion:
Women, Children and Youth, Non-Governmental Organizations, Workers and Trade Unions, Business and Industry, the Scientific and Technological Community and Farmers.

The Co-Chairmen summarized the points discussed.