BRADES, Montserrat (January 27, 2011) –  A four-member delegation will represent Montserrat at the upcoming Regional Civil Society Consultation  set for 10-11 February 2011 in Trinidad & Tobago.

Montserrat was one of 15 Caribbean Community Member States which participated in the CARICOM Civil Society Project, funded through the European Union’s 9th European Development Fund between June and November 2010.  The project is implemented by the CARICOM Secretariat in collaboration with the Governments of CARICOM and facilitated by the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC).

The CARICOM Civil Society Project held national consultations in Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago. Civil Society groups in Suriname submitted their responses to the questionnaire which formed part of the national consultations.

Representing Montserrat will be Ms. Bernadine Collins of APWA, Social Services, Church; Ms. Edris Wade of Community Services and Girl Guides; Kamran Cabey Chief Minister in the Youth Parliament; and Paul Lewis a community leader and head of the Public Service union.

A release from CARICOM said the “Regional Consultation is a critical activity of the Project in that it synthesizes the findings of the national consultations for discussion and examination by some 100 representatives of civil society.”
 

The national discussions were “intended to encourage Civil Society’s active participation and engagement in the CARICOM processes, including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), by heightening awareness of the opportunities for Civil Society to contribute to the development agendas of the Member States of the Caribbean Community.
 

Further, the project aims to identify opportunities for dialogue between CARICOM decision makers and civil society on key national and regional issues, and partnership with governments in the development process.”