BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JANUARY 20TH 2005 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas, will be among OECS Heads of Government meeting with top officials of the Washington D.C.-based World Bank.
Prime Minister Douglas, who initiated and hosted the first OECS-World Bank meeting in the sub-region a few years ago, will join Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. the Right Hon. Keith Mitchell and other colleagues from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Lucia in St. George’s on Friday.
The meeting with World Bank President, Mr. James Wolfensohn and senior officials will also be attended by representatives of the St. Lucia-based OECS Secretariat and the St. Kitts-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).
The World Bank’s partnership with the OECS countries including the 2001 – 2005 Country Assistance Strategy (CAS), the Lessons Learned, the Challenges and Opportunities and the 2006-2009 CAS will be presented by World Bank Country Director, Caroline Anstey.
Director General of the OECS Her Excellency Dr. Len Ishmael will make a presentation on behalf of OECS Leaders on the Progress on the Regional Agenda.
Roundtable discussions will also take place on growth and competitiveness, macroeconomic and fiscal issues, skills enhancement, risk and vulnerability with specific reference to youth and disaster management and catastrophic risk and regional approaches to public sector reform and regional utilities.
Officials will also discuss donor harmonisation and collaboration, leveraging donor funds, simplification proposal and capacity building.
A press conference will be held following the conclusion of the meeting.
Photo: St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas (Photo by Erasmus Williams)