BVI Delegation Participates in 48th OECS Meeting

This week, a delegation from the British Virgin Islands will take part in the 48th meeting of the Authority of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The meeting will start in Montserrat on November 20, with an opening ceremony which will be attended by Representative for the Fifth Electoral District Elvis Harrigan, Permanent Secretary in the Premier's Office Rosalie Adams, and Assistant Secretary for External Affairs Najan Christopher. Closing of the meeting is planned on Friday.

The delegates will adopt the report of the 47th meeting of the OECS Authority and a number of issues relating to the OECS economic union, geopolitical relations, trade, macro-economic development, social and sustainable development, disaster management, and the implementation of the recently signed CARIFORUM-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

Among other problems to be discussed, the OECS delegates will also discuss the investments by OECS member states in biodiversity management, HIV/AIDS Project Unit, the Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (PPS) and the status of the 2008 OECS Human Development Report.

OECS consists of nine members including two associate members, one of them being the British Virgin Islands. The OECS Authority is the highest decision making body of the organisation, which includes the Heads of Government of member states.