BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (JUNE 29TH 2004) – St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas paid a courtesy on the Prime Minster of the Netherlands Antilles (Curacao, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, Saba and Bonaire), the Hon. Etienne Ys on Thursady24th June, 2004.
Both Prime Ministers discussed a wide range of issues which impinged upon their respective domestic economies and the wider Caribbean as a whole.
“Such issues formed part of an elaborate agenda crafted by both Prime Ministers to strengthen collaborative efforts and bilateral relationship and to sensitise Willemstad of the benefits of membership in CARICOM,” Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Oaklyn Peets said.
Mr. Peets said impressed by Dr. Douglas style of leadership, the Netherlands Antilles Prime Minister remarked that he follows with deep interest, the politics of St. Kitts and Nevis and is further motivated by the scores of St. Kitts and Nevis who have diligently shaped the landscape of Curacao and the rest of the Netherlands Antilles through their hard work during the early years.
“Western style democracy versus the Netherlands style of Government, political developments in St. Kitts and Nevis and the Dutch Antilles, significance of the creation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) and its organs such as the Caribbean Court of Justice, the potential impact of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) on Caribbean territories and the liberalisation of the telecommunication sector were some of the issues discussed said Peets.
The Netherlands Antilles Prime Minster highly commended his St. Kitts and Nevis counterpart for his “determination to participate the fight against HIV/AIDS at the highest political levels both at home and abroad and said he would like to emulate best practices from the St. Kitts and Nevis experience.”
The Meeting realised commitments from both Prime Ministers to improve bilateral relations with the Netherlands Antilles and St. Kitts and Nevis, giving an undertaking to attempt greater integration and to explore possibilities for Observer Status with CARICOM.
The Meeting lasted approximately two hours and was attended by Netherlands Antilles Minister of Communications, Mrs. Omayra Leeflang and Director of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Antilles, Mrs. Lucila Moenir-Alam.
The Prime Minister, who is accompanied by Permanent Secretary Peets, extended an invitation to Prime Minister Ys to visit St. Kitts and Nevis sometime in the near future.
