BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 5TH 2009 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has hailed the cooperation agreement between the OECS and the University of Puerto Rico that benefit nationals of the English-speaking Caribbean.
Speaking at a dinner in his honour in the Puerto Rican Municipality of Caguas, Prime Minister Douglas said the agreement signed between the University of Puerto Rico and the OECS Secretariat provides for nationals of the OECS member countries who enroll at the University to be accorded the same status as Puerto Rican students, with all of the attendant benefits and advantages.
“This is a substantial achievement that allows for the pursuit of higher education that is affordable and education that is of excellent standard,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He said another Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Puerto Rico and the OECS member countries signed in 2004 facilitates joint initiatives in functional cooperation in agriculture, education, trade, investment, environmental management, justice, air and sea ports, security and policy.
He said that the agreement with the University of Puerto Rico will ultimately result in beneficiary students being excellent ambassadors for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Prime Minister Douglas said that the MOU has seen other important developments including the appointment of an Honorary Consul, official visits of Eastern Caribbean OECS Prime Ministers to Puerto Rico, the attendance of a former Puerto Rico Secretary of State to an OECS Authority Meeting, and the hosting of an OECS Ministers of Tourism meeting in Caguas.
The St. Kitts and Nevis leader, who is also the current Chairman of the OECS Authority used the opportunity to express the appreciation of the OECS member states to the Honorary Consul Dr. Efrain Vasquez-Vera for his diligent representation of the OECS interests to the Government and people of Puerto Rico.
