The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined high level Political Representatives of ten Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT's) who convened on April 26th in Curacao in order to establish a regional OCT Council for the Caribbean region. The Prime Minister joined in signing the MOU for the establishment of the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Council whose aim it is to work on a joint agenda for sustainable development and a roadmap to establish a Caribbean Agenda with respect to the new Agreement of the Overseas Countries and Territories currently being prepared by the EU and which should go into effect on January 1st 2014. The Council also aims to enhance the relationship of the Caribbean OCT's with the European Union and ensure that the needs and interests of OCT's in the Caribbean are incorporated. During the discussions all participants embraced the concept of sustainable development as their starting point. Specific areas for cooperation which were identified were cooperation within different constitutional frameworks, transportation and logistics, capacity building and sharing, waste management, climate change, renewable energy, disaster management, strategic development within a sustainable framework within small countries or territories, the relationship with the EU, sustainable leadership in the Caribbean and the development of Public-Private-Partnerships. "The presentation on sustainable development early in the day set the tone for the many topics tabled later in the meeting, as these are all interconnected", commented the Prime Minister. On each topic specific working groups have been initiated and will present a Working Plan by September 1st. St. Maarten will support various working groups including the chairing of the constitutional cooperation working group as well as supporting disaster management and sustainable development leadership in the Caribbean. "The choice for St. Maarten to chair the cooperation between OCTs and UPTs was a logical one given our dual island, yet we have a vested interest in most of the other topics as well and will provide input in coming to joint positions on these matters", continued the Prime Minister. The COCT Council will meet again on September 23 prior to the next EU-OCT Forum. Curacao was elected as chair for the Caribbean OCT's Council while the Cayman Islands will act as Vice Chair and the British Virgin Islands will hold the secretariat for the Council. It was recommended during the meeting to have St. Maarten serve as vice chair for 2012/13 and if this is accepted by the OCTA the chairmanship the following year will rest with St. Maarten. The Prime Minister ended by stating that the meeting was quite productive and that Curacao was a gracious host.
Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams Signs MOU on installing Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Council (COCT Council) --- St. Maarten to Chair cooperation between OCT’s and UPT’s.
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams joined high level Political Representatives of ten Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT's) who convened on April 26th in Curacao in order to establish a regional OCT Council for the Caribbean region. The Prime Minister joined in signing the MOU for the establishment of the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Council whose aim it is to work on a joint agenda for sustainable development and a roadmap to establish a Caribbean Agenda with respect to the new Agreement of the Overseas Countries and Territories currently being prepared by the EU and which should go into effect on January 1st 2014. The Council also aims to enhance the relationship of the Caribbean OCT's with the European Union and ensure that the needs and interests of OCT's in the Caribbean are incorporated. During the discussions all participants embraced the concept of sustainable development as their starting point. Specific areas for cooperation which were identified were cooperation within different constitutional frameworks, transportation and logistics, capacity building and sharing, waste management, climate change, renewable energy, disaster management, strategic development within a sustainable framework within small countries or territories, the relationship with the EU, sustainable leadership in the Caribbean and the development of Public-Private-Partnerships. "The presentation on sustainable development early in the day set the tone for the many topics tabled later in the meeting, as these are all interconnected", commented the Prime Minister. On each topic specific working groups have been initiated and will present a Working Plan by September 1st. St. Maarten will support various working groups including the chairing of the constitutional cooperation working group as well as supporting disaster management and sustainable development leadership in the Caribbean. "The choice for St. Maarten to chair the cooperation between OCTs and UPTs was a logical one given our dual island, yet we have a vested interest in most of the other topics as well and will provide input in coming to joint positions on these matters", continued the Prime Minister. The COCT Council will meet again on September 23 prior to the next EU-OCT Forum. Curacao was elected as chair for the Caribbean OCT's Council while the Cayman Islands will act as Vice Chair and the British Virgin Islands will hold the secretariat for the Council. It was recommended during the meeting to have St. Maarten serve as vice chair for 2012/13 and if this is accepted by the OCTA the chairmanship the following year will rest with St. Maarten. The Prime Minister ended by stating that the meeting was quite productive and that Curacao was a gracious host.