Buccament Bay Resort, Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines – March 12, 2014…….Antigua and Barbuda is in line to receive further technical and financial assistance from a number of friendly countries to support its development agenda.
Confirmation of this came during the Twenty Fifth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Governments now underway in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In two separate meetings on the margins of the Conference, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. W. Baldwin Spencer held discussions with representatives from the Governments of New Zealand and the Republic of Turkey, who reaffirmed their commitment towards strengthening and deepening the bilateral relationship with the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda.
During a wide ranging but brief engagement, New Zealand’s High Commissioner-designate to CARICOM, H.E Mrs. Jan Henderson told Prime Minister Spencer of that country’s “serious efforts to strengthen and deepen our relationship”.
New Zealand is seeking membership of the United Nations Security Council and is therefore leveraging its status as a Non-European voice to address the SIDS agenda and other issues relevant to the Caribbean Community.
Prime Minister Spencer who is also Chairman of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), emphasized that the recent efforts of New Zealand to strengthen its presence in the region is “timely” and should enhance their understanding of the challenges confronting the Member States of the Community.
“We are particularly concerned about issues surrounding Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and New Zealand is well-placed to advocate these issues. Additionally, we require the continuing assistance of New Zealand to support the OECS as disadvantaged countries within the context of the CARICOM Revised Treaty, through the adoption of competiveness and Human Development strategies which are critical components of  the Sub-regional development agenda”, according to the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister.
The issue of contribution to the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) was the subject of separate discussions by Prime Minister Spencer with High Commissioner Henderson and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, H.E Ahmet Davutoglu.
“We want to develop our relationship in all fields”, Turkey’s Foreign Minister told Prime Minister Spencer emphasizing a willingness to further cooperate in the fields of scholarships for young diplomats; the provision of space within a diplomatic complex for CARICOM Member States; the offer of 5 scholarships in fields to be determined by Antigua and Barbuda and contribution to the CDF”.
Antigua and Barbuda established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Turkey in June, 1999. (Ends)