BRADES, Montserrat – Montserrat will host the Civil Society consultations this Friday at the Montserrat Cultural Centre beginning at 8:30am. The main objective is to develop a CARICOM model framework and programme for civil society consultations in each CARICOM Member State.
“Increasingly, consultations with civil society are becoming pre-requisites for accessing international donor support,” says Claude Hogan, Director of Regional Affairs.
This one year Project, which is being financed through the Caribbean Integration Support Programme (CISP) of the 9th EDF from January to December 2010, seeks “to provide opportunities for dialogue between Member States and National and Regional Civil Society (Non State Actors) on key issues pertinent to Caribbean Regional Integration, including a Regional Strategic Framework aimed at facilitating strengthened relations between and among Caribbean Civil Society, National Governments and appropriate decision making organs of the Caribbean Community,” says a communiqué from the CARICOM Secretariat.
The Honourable Chief Minister, Mr. Reuben T. Meade who has responsibility for Regional Affairs will give the welcome address during the opening ceremony, which is to be moderated by Mrs. Beverly Mendes, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Chief Minister. Chairing the day’s proceedings is Mr. Hogan with presentations from Mrs. Tricia Barrow-Hazelwood, Mr. Eugene Skerritt, Permanent Secretary for MYACSS, Cecilia Babb from the Caribbean Policy Development Centre and Salas Hamilton from the CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME) Unit.
A cross-section of representatives from community organizations on Montserrat are expected to attend and participate in the discussions on developing a regional strategic framework on the CARICOM Civil Society Project.
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