Economic Council concludes successful visit to St. Lucia and Antigua-Barbuda

Thursday, January 22, 2004

WASHINGTON, USA: From Jan. 14 through Jan. 18, the Inter-American Economic Council organized a visit by a Business and Congressional Delegation to St. Lucia and Antigua-Barbuda.

Mr. Barry S. Featherman, in his capacity as president & CEO of the Council, who led the delegation, observed that this visit was an historic event that created an opportunity for a dialogue between leading business executives of both countries with the political leadership and Members of Congress. 

During the course of the visit, the delegation met with Prime Minister Kenny Anthony of St. Lucia, Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada and Prime Minister Lester Bird of Antigua and Barbuda. 

This visit underwritten by the Inter-American Economic Council served to identify critical issues in CARICOM/U.S. relations on the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) process and other regional issues.

As an outcome of the meetings, Mr Featherman indicated the Council will organize a Business and Investors Forum during the Caricom Heads of Government Meeting. It will organize a Caribbean Trade Ministerial Meeting in Atlanta with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and it will work with the local business community and the Caricom Ambassadors to work with Members of Congress for the Collateral Advancement of Economic Growth and Development within the Context of the Third Border Initiative.

The Congressional Caribbean Caucus was established as a follow up to two historic visits by Congress Members to Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados in January of last year and the Business Roundtable organized by the Council under the Auspices of the Government of Barbados at the OAS General Assembly Meeting through the coordination of the Inter-American Economic Council. 

The Council's goal is to work with sub-regional groups within Latin America including the Andean Initiative and the Caribbean Initiative to facilitate understanding and greater sensitivity and appreciation of specific regional issues. 

The Council has cooperative agreements with the Organization of American States signed by the Council President with Dr. Cesar Gaviria in June of 2000 and the Caribbean Development Bank signed by Mr Featherman with Dr. Compton Bourne last December. The Council is chaired by Senator Christopher Thomas of Trinidad and Tobago, the former Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States. 

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