Antigua-Barbuda to explore maritime cooperation with the Netherlands
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua: The Government of
Antigua and Barbuda is to explore entering into an agreement on maritime
cooperation with the Netherlands to combat drug trafficking within the
Caribbean. This was disclosed today by Prime
Minister Baldwin Spencer during a meeting with the Netherlands Ambassador to
Antigua and Barbuda Mr. Maarten Maria van der Gaag who is on his first
official visit to the country. Prime Minister
Spencer pledged his government’s cooperation in anti-drug trafficking efforts
and gave the assurance that the treaty establishing Maritime cooperation with
the Netherlands will be reviewed. Ambassador
van der Gaag also took the opportunity to commend Prime Minister Spencer as
Chairman of CARICOM for the moves being made towards integration and the
position the grouping has taken on Haiti. He also congratulated the Prime
Minister of his impressive election victory at the polls last March.
He also said that the move to get Trinidad and Tobago involved in addressing
the energy problems facing the region is admirable. Prime Minister Spencer
remarked that the meeting with Prime Minister Patrick Manning of Trinidad and
Tobago was very positive and Antigua and Barbuda is looking forward to a
special arrangement as he believes that Trinidad and Tobago can play a very
important role at this time. The Netherlands
Ambassador also spoke of ways in which his embassy can assist Antigua and
Barbuda in its development and mentioned that the European Union provided most
of the assistance, but there are also mission funds for small projects.
Ambassador van der Gaag during the discussions with Prime Minsiter Spencer
spoke of the Netherlands position on the International Criminal Court (ICC)
which was recently raised by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves during the OECS
Heads of Government Meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
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