BVI delegates attend OCTA Meetings in the Cayman Islands

~~Adz:Left~~ Roadtown, Tortola - Deputy Premier Honourable Dancia Penn, OBE, QC is heading a four-member delegation attending the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) Ministerial Conference and OCT-European Union (EU) Forum in the Cayman Islands.

The  delegation to the meetings, which begin on Wednesday, also include Financial Secretary and Territorial Authorising Officer Mr. Neil Smith, Acting Deputy Secretary in the Premier’s Office Mrs. Marva Titley-Smith and from the BVI’s London Office, Political/Accounts Officer Ms. Sandra Besson.

At the Ministerial Conference which precedes the forum, the future relationship between the BVI and other OCTs and the EU will be among the main agenda items. In discussing the EU Green Paper on the subject, delegates are expected to focus on the nature of the partnership, mutual interests in environmental issues, vulnerability and diversity and the trade regime among other things.

Prior to this week’s meetings, the Territory hosted a workshop on the EU Green Paper in September at which senior Government officials sought to determine whether or not the EU matters to the BVI. The response drafted after that workshop showed the consensus to be that the BVI should continue its relationship with the EU but make it more beneficial to the Territory.

As recommended in the Green Paper, the BVI supports the move from classic poverty focussed development approach to one which recognises the economic and environmental vulnerabilities of OCTs.

The OCTA Ministerial Conference will also discuss the formation of a secretariat for the OCTs with the intention of enhancing the policy dialogue with the EU, improve the dissemination of information to OCTs and increase the efficiency with which European development Fund projects are prepared, submitted, appraised and implemented.

Delegates will also receive reports from various workshops including waste/water management, sustainable energy and aquaculture.,

The BVI and its fellow United Kingdom OCTs will have an opportunity to hold bilateral discussions with officials from the UK Government and the Foreign Commonwealth Office prior to the start of two-day EU-OCT Forum which begins on Thursday. They are expected to declare their expectations of the forum.

The agenda for the forum includes a summary of the public consultation process on the Green Paper and presentations on the state of implementation of the ninth and tenth European Development Fund (EDF).

The BVI is one of 17 members of the Association of Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTA), established in 2003.  OCTA is designed to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information for the mutual benefit of members, recommend action to member governments, develop effective working relationships with EU institutions and defend the collective interests of members.