PHILIPSBURG:--- On April 10 and 11th 2014, the Social Economic Council (SER) took part in the yearly meeting of the Network of Economic and Social Councils in Latin America and the Caribbean (CESALC), which was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. CESALC is a regional network representing 22 Economic and Social Councils (ESC's) from 9 different countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Chairman of the SER of the city of Buenos Aires, Mr. Sergio Abrevaya, welcomed all the representatives of the ESC's from Latin America and the Caribbean. The purpose of the meeting was to debate the issue of poverty, to establish the governing principles of CESALC, and to decide on the activities of the network for the next two years.
Representatives from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), European Economic and Social Committee (EU) were present to give lectures on poverty. Different ESC's of Latin America and the Caribbean shared their best practices regarding the topic of poverty.
SER Sint Maarten participation in the CESALC meeting, serves as another example that international organizations continue to recognize Sint Maarten as an autonomous country and Sint Maarten is ready to fulfill its responsibility on an international level.
The Sint Maarten delegation consisted of SER chairman Arthur Bute, SER board member Eveline Henriquez – Dijkhoffz and policy advisor Bas Peters.
