Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie is attending and participating in the sixth meeting of the Caribbean Development Roundtable and the twenty-eighth session of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC) of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) today.

The virtual meeting organised by ECLAC, brings together regional Ministerial members of Government to discuss areas including financing for development in the era of COVID -19 and beyond; short-term solutions to the liquidity and debt challenges currently facing the Caribbean; post COVID-19 resilience building and economic restructuring: policy planning, financing and the role of the private sector, among other areas.

“As the Head of the Government of the Virgin Islands elected by the people of the Virgin Islands, I am pleased to be a part of the meeting where regional government officials will collectively discuss challenges, opportunities and consider solutions for moving forward,” Premier Fahie said, adding, “The meeting is an important opportunity for us as a region to discuss the economic, fiscal, social and health challenges the Caribbean  is facing as a result of COVID-19."

The Virgin Islands is a Vice Chair of the Caribbean Development Cooperation Committee (CDCC) which serves as ECLAC’s permanent subsidiary body for the Caribbean. The objective of the CDCC is to promote and strengthen economic and social cooperation and integration among the countries of the Caribbean and with Latin America. Through this august body, Caribbean leaders are able to discuss common positions and strategies on economic and social issues among Caribbean nations.

Additionally, the Premier will attend the United Nations Regional Meeting on Caribbean Development and will discuss strategies for advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the multidimensional impact of COVID-19 pandemic, among other topics.

The Premier is accompanied by Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Glenroy A. Forbes, Deputy Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Mrs. Eliva Smith-Maduro, Director of International Affairs Secretariat Ms. Najan Christopher and Special Envoy of the Premier, Mr. Benito Wheatley.