Prime Minister Douglas Applauds the Work of the Organization of American States (OAS) in St. Kitts and Nevis

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and the OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr. Starret Greene, held a wide ranging discussion on a number of initiatives that are being undertaken by the hemispheric body in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

In their dialogue, Prime Minister Douglas reiterated his Government’s support for the Civil Registry and Identity project that is sponsored by the OAS, and expressed satisfaction that the project was soon to commence the first phase of its implementation.

In this regard, Prime Minister Douglas also voiced his appreciation for the OAS’s technical and financial support, and praised the organization for developing the Caribbean Civil Registry Information System (CCRIS), that would, among other things, allow St. Kitts and Nevis to digitize information contained in record books at the Civil Registry, primarily births, deaths and marriages.

The Prime Minister’s conversation with the OAS Diplomat also touched on the role of the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT), an affiliate of the OAS, in promoting entrepreneurship among young people in the Federation.

Dr. Douglas was informed of a forthcoming Mini Business Lab Training Course for Young Entrepreneurs, sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office in Barbados, in collaboration with the OECS, YABT, the Federal Ministry of Youth Empowerment and other Stakeholders in the Federation. This event has started at the UWI Open Campus conference room, and is expected to attract some 50 young people.

The Prime Minister was also informed of a similar event would be held in Nevis on November 3, 2012.

Representative Greene also used the opportunity to brief the Prime Minister on the OAS’s Youth Conference 2012, that is being organized by the Office of the Assistant Secretary General and the OAS Interdepartmental Working Group on Youth, to be held on December 2, 2012, at the OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Greene said that the event would bring together young people and decision makers on youth issues from throughout the Americas, to discuss the event’s theme “democracy and entrepreneurship.”

In this connection, Prime Minister Douglas expressed support for the initiatives undertaken by the OAS on behalf of youth in the region and at the level of the hemisphere as well and said that he was pleased that his Government, through the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, was collaborating closely with YABT and the OAS General Secretariat, to advance the goals and aspirations of youth in the Americas.

Prime Minister Douglas also learned of the completion of a Feasibility Study, undertaken by the OAS, through its Department of Sustainable Development (DSD), for an Electricity Interconnection between St. Kitts and Nevis, in respect of the development of geothermal energy on the sister island of Nevis.

He was also informed that the OAS/DSD would consult with the Ministry of Public Utilities, Works, Housing and Energy on convening a Stakeholders meeting in the Federation to discuss the report’s findings, conclusions and recommendations. It is believed that the said meeting would be held before the end of 2012.

OAS’s Professional Development Training Program and its range of Training Courses offered through its various Secretariats, including the Secretariat for Multi-dimensional Security, was given considerable attention in the meeting.

In this connection, the OAS Representative informed the Prime Minister of a series of forthcoming training events that would benefit Civil Servants and other Government workers in St. Kitts and Nevis, in the areas of Cargo Security Management, Document Security and Identity Management, and Passenger Interdiction Operations.

At the close of their discussion, Dr. Douglas expressed his Government’s deep appreciation to the Organization of American States for the range of programs, projects and activities it continued to sponsor in the Federation.

He personally thanked Mr. Greene for his efforts in promoting and directing the affairs of the organization in St. Kitts and Nevis.