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HOME	JANUARY 29th, 2005

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Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Heads of Government and the World Bank have agreed to establish a methodology to prioritise the developmental needs of the sub-region.

The decision was taken at a meeting in St. George's attended by Prime Ministers Dr. Keith Mitchell, Kenny Anthony, Denzil Douglas, Roosevelt Skerrit, Baldwin Spencer and Ralph Gonsalves, OECS Secretary General Len Ishmael, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Governor Sir Dwight Venner and a delegation from the World Bank headed by president James Wolfensohn.

Prime Minister Mitchell, referring to the meeting as historic, said the presence of the World Bank president in Grenada, marking Wolfensohn's second visit to the sub-region, demonstrates his commitment to the sub-region.

A similar meeting was held in St. Kitts/Nevis in November 2002. Wolfensohn said the meeting was "extraordinarily useful," in that several areas were reviewed, including the exposure of the sub-region to natural disasters.

It was agreed that the Bank would report back to the Heads of Government within 60 days with a list of priorities for their endorsement and development. This list would then serve to guide the World Bank and the donor community generally as to how to match the objectives of the specific priorities.

Developmental issues addressed during the discussions included the need for more training for young people and ways by which the skills obtained through the training can be translated into jobs and business opportunities; the rising crime rates in many member States and the wider Caribbean; public sector reform and commercialisation of government services; as well as the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network (CKLN).

During his welcoming address, Prime Minister Mitchell, who chaired the meeting, provided an update on the CKLN, which has been registered in Grenada as a non-profit foundation under the Companies Ordinance.

Dr. Mitchell said the Network is "now ready to open offices, open bank accounts and begin operations at its headquarters in St. George's. Discussions are underway with E Links Americas to provide the low cost satellite connections."

In this regard, an Aide Memoire has been agreed between E-Links Americas and the CKLN Foundation for the provision of the satellite connectivity and the networking elements to connect the tertiary institutions into a network.

Prime Minister Mitchell told the meeting that the first phase of institutional strengthening of tertiary education institutions has begun in nine countries; namely: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

"We acknowledge the unwavering support of the World Bank, without which the Network could not have progressed as far as it has during the past 12 months. In particular, I take this opportunity, and I know I speak on behalf of all Heads here today, to pay tribute to you, Mr. Wolfensohn, for your personal commitment to this Project," Dr. Mitchell said.