Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 18, 2015 (SKNIS): Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, left the Federation Wednesday morning (November 18) to attend the 62nd meeting of the OECS Authority in the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Prime Minister Harris is accompanied by the Attorney General, the Honourable Vincent Byron Jr. and Director of the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Services (SKNIS), Mr Lesroy Williams. Dr. Harris will address the august body for the first time as a new Head of Government.
The two day meeting runs from November 18 to 19, 2015, under the Chairmanship of Dr. the Right Honourable Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada. The meeting has a packed schedule which includes remarks by OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules.
The OECS Heads of Government are expected to come to decisions on a number of matters which include the staffing and structure of the OCES commission.
Also on the agenda to be discussed are matters related to an update on the application by French Caribbean Overseas Regions and other Administrative Divisions for membership of the OECS, as well as a programme for the integration of Martinique into the OECS.
Health Ministers from Antigua and Dominica, the Honourable Molwyn Joseph and the Hon. Kenneth Darroux respectively are also expected to provide submissions for the Council of Health Ministers in regard to Health Policy in the OCES region. The sustainability of the Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (PPS) will also be examined.
Also on the agenda is a proposed Strategy for Dominica’s Recovery from the passage of Tropical Storm Erika and a proposal for OECS Future Disaster Responsiveness. The OECS Heads of Government are expected to tour Petite Savanne, one of the areas most affected by the storm, on Thursday November 19. Following that visit, the OECS Heads will also host a town hall meeting at the Pierre Charles Secondary School in Grand Bay.
The 63rd meeting of the OECS Authority is scheduled for May 20 to 21 and the venue is to be decided between Montserrat and Anguilla.