The Virgin Islands was elected to serve as Vice Chair of the United Nations’ official Intergovernmental body for the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee, a subsidiary of the Economic Commission for Laton America and the Caribbean on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

According to a government press release, during the 30th Session of the CDCC on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago the decision was approved.

The VI joined ECLAC as an Associate Member in 1984 and was admitted to CDCC in 1985.

The CDCC was initially established in 1975 to help facilitate the cooperation, development and transformation of the Caribbean subregion.

Other officers confirmed to serve on the CDCC Bureau were Trinidad and Tobago (Chair); Saint Lucia (Vice Chair); Jamaica (Vice Chair); and Saint Kitts and Nevis (Rapporteur). Senior ECLAC officials who attended the meeting included Executive Secretary Mr. Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs and Director of the ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean in Port of Spain Mrs. Diane Quarless.

VI represented by Mr. E. Benito Wheatley

Special Envoy, Mr. E. Benito Wheatley, in his capacity as BVI Representative to the UN in Latin America and the Caribbean, assumed the role of Vice Chair on VI’s behalf at the CDCC Session.

He also attended the 8^th Meeting of the Caribbean Development Roundtable (CDR) from 9^th-10^th September ahead of the 30^th session of the CDCC.

Mr. Wheatley said, “We are humbled by the trust and confidence of ECLAC, the UN system and membership of CDCC in the British Virgin Islands to serve as a Vice Chair of this important intergovernmental UN body that supports the sustainable development, climate resilience and economic transformation of the Caribbean. I am truly honoured to represent the BVI on the committee on behalf of Premier Dr. Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley and the BVI Government. We look forward to working with the CDCC Bureau, committee members, and development partners to move the subregion forward.”

Vice Chair’s role is to support Chair

The Virgin Islands as a Vice Chair will support the Chair who is represented by the Honourable Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, Minister of Planning and Development of Trinidad and Tobago, in carrying out the CDCC programme of work for 2024-2026 that will focus on advancing the Caribbean’s sustainable development and climate resilience under the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The VI is an ECLAC Associate Member of a new Working Group established by CDCC resolution to facilitate UN system collaboration on assistance to the Associate Members of ECLAC in support of their sustainability, resilience and development.