Member nations of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) stand to benefit from several initiatives between the sub-regional integration movement and international development partners.
Director General, Her Excellency Dr. Len Ishmael outlined to Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers the status and achievements of key programmes and projects being undertaken by the Secretariat to the Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers attending the recent 43rd Meeting of the Authority of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
These included the CIDA-funded OECS institutional strengthening project which is expected to strengthen the operational and administrative capacity of the Secretariat to fulfill its mandates and functions in support of the development objectives of its Member States and the UNDP-funded project to strengthen the capacity of the Social Policy Unit to provide technical advisory services and guidance to governments in key areas of social protection, social services delivery, and social policy formulation in an effort to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable human development.
~~Adz:Right~~The Director General said that an OECS Programme for Sustainable Oceans Governance will equip Member States with the requisite understanding, information and capacity in the sustainable management and protection of their maritime boundaries, as well as maritime resources.
"There are also the Disaster Response and Risk Reduction project which helps Member States strengthen their capacities and efforts to undertake macro-economic and social assessments of the effects of disasters on the performance of their economies; and the HIV/AIDS project, funded by a grant from the Global Fund to provide universal access to antiretroviral medications and to improve the productivity, quality of life of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
The OECS leaders supported the efforts of the Secretariat to increase efficiency and effectiveness; endorsed structural changes outlined to increase the relevance of the Secretariat to the needs of Member States; and build confidence in the donor community.
The Meeting welcomed an offer by the OECS Secretariat to visit Montserrat and assist the new Administration of Chief Minister Dr. the Hon. Lowell Lewis with the elaboration of the development programme of the new Administration, in response to a request from the Chief Minister.
