This meeting is held to bring all the Special Olympics programmes in the region, not only to discuss and celebrate the past years achievements, but also to educate the progammes on what is expected for the year ahead. There will be specific focus on options and strategies to increase sponsorship of individual programmes in light of the current global economic realities. The meeting will seek to ensure that the goals of SOC and the programmes in the region are aligned with those of SONA and the global Special Olympics movement.
In addition two workshops are conducted one designed to upgrade and develop Coaches and Training/Sport Directors and the other for Board Chairs and board members in capacity building and sharing ideas on fund raising and other strategies. Programmes are also expected to report on their past year's achievements and give their schedule of events for 2009.
St. Kitts is the third CARICOM territory to introduce special arrangements for People with Special Needs as a Government policy. Two such agreements have already been signed between the Governments of Jamaica and Belize and Special Olympics Jamaica and Special Olympics Belize respectively. Former Prime Minister Most Hon. P.J. Patterson signed on behalf of the government of Jamaica and Prime Minister Dean Barrow signed on behalf of the government of Belize.
SOC Executive Director, Candilla Berment Harper was selected to sit on a CARICOM Sports Advisory Committee which was formed to develop procedures and policy to ensure inclusion of all persons with and without disabilities participate in sporting activities throughout the Caribbean.
In addition to the business meeting, The SOC board will also hold their first of two annual board meetings on Apr. 22 and 23, in St. Kitts & Nevis. At this meeting the Board will review overall performance of the twenty three programmes throughout the region for which it has oversight. It will sign off on a calendar of training, coaching and competition events and strategies to identify sponsors for the work of the body. Board Chairperson Maureen Webber anticipates that this board meeting is especially important as the board seeks to increase the number of persons with intellectual disability across the region participating in sporting activities. The SOC Board members will travel from southern Florida, Cayman Islands; Guadeloupe; the Bahamas; Trinidad & Tobago; St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Barbados to attend this meeting.
Last year's Caribbean Business Meeting was held in St. Maarten.
