POND ISLAND--Following the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) Resilience Summit 2018, Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin invited leaders of the Dutch Caribbean OCTs to further discuss ways of strengthening their visibility and position.
The meeting, held in the Government Administration Building on Friday, chaired by Curaçao Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath, was also attended by Aruba Prime Minister Evelyn Croes Wever, Dutch Government Deputy Commissioner for St. Eustatius Merwyn Stegers and Bonaire Governor Edison Rijna. Saba representatives were not present due to prior commitments.
With Brexit looming and the discontinuation of the Cotonou agreement, EU-OCT relationships are expected to change and this requires the attention and positioning of the Dutch Caribbean OCTs. “Given the geographical position of the Caribbean OCTs and its common (economic) concerns, it is vital that we position ourselves on matters that are of mutual concern,” said Romeo-Marlin.
This working together will “increase our strength and visibility of these territories in presenting a shared position on the draft ODA that is being negotiated by the Netherlands at the European Commission on our behalf,” said Romeo-Marlin.
The leaders are to finalize their joint position in the coming weeks.
