Premier Dr. Orlando Smith has been away from the territory this week to attend the 60th meeting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, where Martinique will join the sub-regional group as an associate member.
Martinique, which hosted the meeting, is the tenth state, but the first French territory, to join the group, which has stood at nine members for the last 30 years.
“The involvement of Martinique in the OECS, while there are limitations because of their status in relation to France, opens up great potential and certainly widens the demographics from an economic perspective,” said OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules in a statement released ahead of the Wednesday meeting, adding, “The use of Martinique as a tertiary health facility centre for the OECS is something under discussion, so there are a lot of opportunities.”
Dr. Smith’s attendance at the meeting — which is also set to include discussions on free circulation of goods; trade and integration; and information communication technology competitiveness — will help the territory strengthen regional ties, according to government.
“As a fellow associate member of the OECS, we see this as a unique opportunity to reconnect with our Caribbean counterparts, particularly Martinique, and to build a relationship with the French territory,” Dr. Smith said in a government press release.
Dr. Smith is accompanied by Najan Christopher, the acting deputy director of the International Affairs Secretariat.
He was scheduled to return to the territory Friday. Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering was also away from the territory, so Health and Social Development Minister Ronnie Skelton acted as premier.
{fcomment}