(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana ) A high-level team from the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) will visit the British Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) of Montserrat, Anguilla and The British Virgin Islands, during the period 19-23 November 2007.

The team’s mission is to facilitate an exchange of information between Caribbean political leaders and technical experts from key PANCAP institutions and high-level officials in the OCTs. It will also identify important areas for the increased involvement of OCTs in PANCAP.

The visit follows a meeting in March of French Departments of the Americas (FDA)/OCTs Special Working Group in Antigua and Barbuda where the discussions centred on FDA/OCTs detachment from the regional response to HIV/AIDS and donor funding mobilized by PANCAP, and limited involvement in the PANCAP decision-making process.

According to PANCAP Coordinating Unit Director, Mr. Carl Browne, this mission will “go a far way in finalizing the agenda for the deeper involvement of the OCT in the governance and operations of PANCAP”.

Members of the team are expected to pay courtesy calls on Heads of State, Chief Ministers and Ministers of Government. They will also hold discussions with key members of government and other stakeholders involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

The team will include Hon. Dr. Douglas Slater, Minister of Health, St. Vincent and the Grenadines , Hon. John Maginley, Minister of Health, Antigua and Barbuda , H.E. Amb. Lolita Applewhaite, CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. Ronald Mc Ananey, Chair of the FDA/OCT Special Working Group, members of the PANCAP Regional Coordinating Mechanism and representatives of regional institutions, the CARICOM Secretariat and the PANCAP Coordinating Unit.