Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams gave an update of her New Caledonia trip on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers live press briefing. The Prime Minister said she attended a two part meeting, one she said was directly related to the OCTA meetings while the other had to do with the European Union Commission and the OCT's.Wescot Williams said this was the first time St. Maarten participated as an independent OCT member. The Prime Minister said the OCTA was formed in 2002 to represent the interest of the OCT's. She said in the past, the island participated in the OCT meetings as it was part of the Netherlands Antilles. However, St. Maarten was able to join the OCT membership during the recently held forum. During this forum the Prime Minister said a new president was elected who hails from Montserrat. Those that attended the forum were The Netherlands, United Kingdom, France and Denmark.
Wescot Williams said during this forum a draft overseas decision was presented. The Prime Minister said she also had an opportunity to discuss with the French Overseas Minister who is very much interested in closer working relations between the two sides of the island. She further explained that a decision was taken to host the next OCTA meeting on St. Maarten.
