Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie is away from the Territory attending a special meeting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Authority in Guadeloupe.

At the 65^th meeting held in St. Lucia in June, 2018, the Authority considered an update on the application of Guadeloupe for associate membership of the OECS. The OECS Authority agreed that the engagement with Guadeloupe should proceed as recommended with a view to its accession to associate membership.

Premier Fahie is attending the special meeting from March 14 to 16 that will see the formal accession of Guadeloupe to associate membership. The meeting will be the first encounter between the OECS Heads and President of the Regional Council of Guadeloupe Mr. Ary Chalus who will speak on his country’s vision, its motivation and expectations and the value added to the organisation as a result of its membership.

The Premier will address the two-day meeting on Thursday, which is his first official regional meeting since being sworn in as Premier.

Chairman of the OECS Authority and Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Director General of the OECS Authority, Dr. Didacus Jules and President Chalus will also address Thursday’s opening ceremony.

Premier Fahie will join the other OECS Heads in offering supporting interventions for Guadeloupe’s membership at this special meeting. The BVI is an Associate Member of the OECS Authority.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley will act as Premier from Wednesday, March 13, to Saturday, March 16, in accordance with Section 55 (1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007 which states, “If the Premier is expected to be absent from the Virgin Islands for more than forty-eight hours, the Governor shall authorise the Deputy Premier to perform the functions of the office of Premier; and the Governor shall revoke this authority on the return to the Virgin Islands of the Premier.”