PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Wednesday, November 26, 2008 – Premier the Honourable Dr. Michael E. Misick is heading a three-member delegation to attend the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) Ministerial Conference and OCT-European Union (EU) Forum in the Cayman Islands this week.
The delegation to the meetings, which begin today - Wednesday, also includes Mr. Gloyd Lewis Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Mr. Delton Jones, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Finance.
The assembly will take place at the Westin Casuarina Hotel for the Overseas Countries and Territories ministers, with further meetings Thursday and Friday to be held with European Commission members including representatives from the United Kingdom, Denmark, France and the Netherlands.
The main focus of the OCTA Ministerial Conference will be on future relations among the overseas countries and the European Union. Additionally, members will also discuss the formation of a secretariat for the OCTs with the intention of enhancing the policy dialogue with the EU, improve the dissemination of information to OCTs and increase the efficiency with which European Development Fund projects are prepared, submitted, appraised and implemented.
Moreover, delegates will also receive reports from various workshops including waste/water management, sustainable energy and aquaculture.
The Turks and Caicos Islands and its fellow United Kingdom OCTs will have an opportunity to hold bilateral discussions with officials from the UK Government and the Foreign Commonwealth Office prior to the start of two-day EU-OCT Forum, which begins tomorrow, Thursday, November 27th.
The agenda for the forum includes a summary of the public consultation process on the Green Paper and presentations on the state of implementation of the ninth and tenth European Development Fund (EDF).
The Overseas Countries and Territories have met annually for the last seven years. Cayman is serving as the territories association's ministerial chairman for 2008.
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