The British Virgin Islands has been re-elected as Vice Chair of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean’s (ECLAC) Caribbean Development Cooperation Committee (CDCC), which serves as permanent subsidiary body of the United Nations (UN) for the Caribbean.

The election took place at the 27^th Session of the CDCC in St. Lucia on April 27.

Deputy Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Mrs. Elvia Smith-Maduro attended the meeting on behalf of the Territory.

Mrs. Smith-Maduro said, “We are honoured to be re-elected Vice Chair of CDCC and look forward to supporting St. Lucia as Chair. We will also continue to advocate on behalf of other Associate Members, particularly those recovering from hurricanes Irma and Maria. We will of course support CDCC efforts to find solutions to the external pressures facing the Caribbean’s finance centres.”

The Deputy Secretary who is responsible for International Development thanked ECLAC for their assistance to the BVI after hurricanes Irma and Maria.

She said, “We are grateful to ECLAC for providing technical assistance to help assess the economic damage and loss to the Territory after last year’s catastrophic storms. ECLAC’s Caribbean Headquarters also continues to support the BVI’s plans to implement the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

Ahead of the CDCC Session, Mrs. Smith-Maduro attended the Fifth Meeting of the Caribbean Development Roundtable on April 26, which focused on the external challenges facing Caribbean finance centres and the threat of climate change, among other things.

She briefed attendees on the external pressures bearing on the BVI as an International Finance Centre (IFC) from the United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) and the challenge of recovering from Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Commenting on her participation at the 5th Caribbean Development Roundtable and 27th CDCC Session, the Deputy Secretary in the Premier’s Office said, “My attendance at these UN regional meetings supports the government’s policy of deepening the BVI’s participation in the UN system to help support the Territory’s growth and development. As we rebuild our islands, the SDGs will be key to meeting our development objectives as a Small Island Developing States.”

Mrs. Smith-Maduro is the BVI Government’s policy lead on International Development who is responsible for engagement with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and EU. She is the Deputy Regional Authorising Officer (DRAO) for the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) and the Territorial Authorising Officer (TAO) for the 11th EDF. At UN level, she is the designated focal point for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Photo attached:  Deputy Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Mrs. Elvia Smith-Maduro during the 27th Session of the CDCC in St. Lucia. (Photo credit: Provided)