BVI CHIEF MINISTER TO MEET WORLD BANK PRESIDENT

Chief Minister the Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal will be part of a delegation of leaders from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to meet with President of the World Bank Mr. James D. Wolfensohn in St. Kitts from November 26th to 27th 2002.

He was invited to the twin island federation to participate in several functions that coincide with the visit of the World Bank President.
On Wednesday 27th November, Hon. O’Neal will take part in a roundtable discussion between OECS Heads of Government and the World Bank President and his delegation. 

“As the OECS lead spokesperson on Financial Services, I will be a participant in the roundtable discussion on that issue, which will take place at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank headquarters in Basseterre,” he announced at Monday’s press conference. “Those talks are intended for OECS Heads and the World Bank President to discuss matters of mutual concern.”

According to the BVI leader, the proposed topics include International Competitiveness, where the focus will be on issues pertaining to the transformation of OECS economies to make them internationally competitive and possible areas requiring external support.

He said they would discuss the Social Safety Net and the fact that the economic stabilization and adjustment measures now being adopted by member states will need to be accompanied by appropriate strategies and actions to mitigate the situation of the most vulnerable segments of the population. The World Bank, via its poverty reduction and associated social sector programmes, could give support in these areas.

“Regarding connectivity issues, discussions will focus on the need to bridge the digital divide and develop the information and communication technology sector which has been accepted as a priority area for the OECS,” Chief Minister O’Neal said. He noted that it is also now attracting the attention of the World Bank and in accordance with the decisions of the OECS Economic Summit, Heads will explore areas of support from the World Bank.