Current Events

• Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission Conducts Mission to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuesday April 2, 2013
  
  The Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) – a specialized agency of the Organization of American States (OAS) serving as the Hemisphere’s policy forum on all aspects of the drug problem - conducted a sensitization mission to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on March 26 and 27, 2013.
  
  The Mission comprised Ms. Angela Crowdy, CICAD’s Acting Assistant Executive Secretary, and Ms. Karen Sanjines, MEM Specialist, and was joined on-island by Ms. Melene Glynn, OAS Country Representative.
  
  The MEM is a diagnostic tool designed by the member countries of the OAS, which carries out periodic, comprehensive, multilateral evaluations of the actions taken by individual member states and by the hemisphere as a whole to deal with the drug problem. The Mission sought to build support for and promote the fullest participation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the MEM process.
  
  During the two days of meetings, the Mission met with key Government officials, including Hon. Girlyn Miguel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education; Mr. Luis DeShong, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Wellness & the Environment; Ms. Patsy Wyllie, Chief Health Educator, Ministry of Health and Mr. Harvey Farrell, Health Educator, Ministry of Health. The discussions centered on the revised MEM process, the recommendations emanating therefrom for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (which include the approval of a national drug plan and establishment of a national drug authority) and the support that CICAD could provide in this regard, particularly the secondary school survey currently being coordinated by the Ministry of Health to determine the prevalence of drug use among students and the related issues that affect them.
  
  A workshop to inform national anti-drug stakeholders about the MEM and to prepare them for their participation in the Sixth Evaluation Round, which commences this year, was held on the morning of March 27. Participating in the Workshop were officials of the Ministry of Health, the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Customs and Excise Department and the University of the West Indies.
  
  Speaking upon conclusion of the current Mission, Ms. Crowdy noted that the workshop marked “…a re-energizing of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ participation in the MEM’s process”. While she acknowledged that the country had faced major challenges which impeded progress in the implementation of recommendations from the previous round, Ms Crowdy welcomed the commitment expressed by Permanent Secretary DeShong and looked forward to St. Vincent and the Grenadines “…deriving the benefits offered by this multilateral process.”
  
• The Organization of Women of the Americas Provides Project Award to the Roving Caregivers Programme of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Monday February 25, 2013
  
  The Organization of Women of the Americas (OWA) has awarded US$5,000 to the Roving Caregivers Programme (RCP) of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  The award will fund the RCP Project – “Women, Children and Community Learning together in the Roving Caregivers Programme” – which seeks to enhance parenting knowledge, stimulate good parenting behavior and promote appropriate child rearing practices among project participants.
  
  RCP is an informal early childhood development programme that aims to reach young children (birth – three), who do not have access to any structured formal early childhood development services. The programme’s core objectives are to provide early stimulation for children in their formative years and improved parenting practices amongst parents and other caregivers.
  
  The Organization of Women of the Americas, a non-profit, charitable organization founded in 1997, comprises lady Ambassadors who are permanent members of the Organization of American States (OAS) as well as the wives of Ambassadors, Permanent Observers and Alternate Representatives to the OAS, along with the wives of the Secretary General and of the Assistant Secretary General of the OAS. The Organization works to highlight the social and cultural realities facing women and children in the Western Hemisphere and supports the identification and financing of solutions to their needs and problems.
  
  The OWA award was presented to RCP Coordinator Mrs. Judith Hull-Ballah on Monday, February 25, 2013, at the Office of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The OAS Country Representative, Mrs. Melene Glynn, made the presentation on behalf of OWA.
  
• OAS Completes Work on the Caribbean Civil Registry & Identity System (CCRIS) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuesday February 19, 2013
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS), through its Department for Effective Public Management (DEPM), with funding from the Governments of Chile, Canada, Luxembourg and Korea, has completed implementation of a Caribbean Civil Registry and Identity System (CCRIS) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  CCRIS was developed under the OAS/DEPM’s Universal Civil Identity Program in the Americas (PUICA) to facilitate birth registration and to provide uniform vital statistics in the Eastern Caribbean. With equipment purchased by the OAS – one Book-Drive scanner, two servers, seven computer workstations, network equipment and other computer hardware components – CCRIS facilitated the scanning of the vital records maintained in ledgers at the Civil Registry’s Vault and their uploading to a central database.
  
  From September to December 2011 and June to December 2012, the project scanned a full 100 percent of the 468 ledgers at the Civil Registry, for a total of 120,320 pages containing 614,200 birth, death, marriage, adoption and legitimization records. By December 24, 2012, it had scanned and cropped 93 percent of the scanned records and initiated data entry.
  
  The Civil Registry is now able to view the images cropped by CCRIS in their existing application, and has the ability to image, crop and process birth, death and marriage records, along with data entry, verification, editing and printing. In addition to providing the services of experts to guide the implementation of CCRIS, the OAS has provided:
  
   The software application that served as the platform for the system.
   The hardware to scan the registration books in which the vital information was recorded and to enter that information in a searchable database.
   Technical support in setting up the hardware and installing the software.
   Training and salaries for a Supervisor, Scanning Technician and five Data Entry Clerks.
  
  The OAS/DEPM is facilitating the implementation of CCRIS in six CARICOM member states of the OAS - Antigua & Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the first country to complete the computerization phase and to incorporate CCRIS as an integral part of Registry operations.
  
• OAS Delivers Training for Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey Project
  Paramaribo, Suriname, Wednesday January 30, 2013
  
  The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organization of American States (OAS/CICAD), has delivered a training workshop, in Paramaribo, Suriname, for a Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey Project to be implemented in the Caribbean.
  
  The Workshop, which took place on 28 – 30 January 2013, provided comprehensive information and instructions on the implementation of the survey and reporting of the results to the participating countries.
  
  The Survey will collect data on drug consumption and related problems among secondary students, in order to assist in the formulation of appropriate policies and responses.
  
  Participating from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were Ms. Patsy Wyllie, Chief Health Educator, Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, and Mr. Selwyn Allen.
  
• OAS Executes Regional Training Seminar on the Control of Chemical Diversion
  St. George's, Grenada, Friday February 1, 2013
  
  The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organization of American States (OAS/CICAD), in collaboration with the Government of Grenada, through the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF), has executed a Regional Training Seminar on the Control of Chemical Diversion.
  
  The Seminar, which was held in St. Georges, Grenada, from 28 January to 1 February 2013, examined how illicit drugs are produced, the chemicals used in the process, methods of diversion used and elements of officer safety.
  
  Attending the Seminar from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were Tyrone Jack, Drug Inspector, Ministry of Health, Wellness & the Environment; Anson Macaulay Evans, Assistant Supervisor, Enforcement, Customs and Excise Department; Foster Scott, Inspector of Police, Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force and Steve Millington, Senior Pharmacist, Ministry of Health.
  
• Officials of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Consult on Travel Document Security
  Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Friday December 7, 2012
  
  Five officials of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have attended an OAS “Sub-regional Workshop and Consultation on Capacity Building in Travel Document Security and Identification Management”, in Trinidad and Tobago.
  
  The Workshop, which was held from December 5 - 7, 2012 in Port of Spain, was convened by the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) of the Organization of American States (OAS), in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
  
  The objective of the Workshop was to promote the exchange of information and experiences regarding international standards on travel documents, new technology, issuance and control of travel documents, improvement and modernization of civil registries, and the strengthening of border controls.
  
  Topics such as machine readable and electronic passports, biometrics, secure birth certificates and other breeder documents, and secure document issuance processes were also included, as well as other topics related to the management of identity and travel documents in order to prevent and detect their alteration or fraudulent use.
  
  Participating from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were Mr. Stanford Hamilton, Chief Immigration Officer; Ms. Lekeicha Caesar-Toney, Deputy Registrar of the High Court; Ms. Faye James, Deputy Registrar of the High Court; Ms. Agatha Simmons, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of National Security; and Ms. Nasha Morris, Immigration Officer II.
  
  They were joined by their counterparts from a number of other Caribbean countries, including Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, St. Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
  
  
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Benefits from OAS Training in Aviation Security
  St. Georges, Grenada, Friday December 7, 2012
  
  Three aviation security officials of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have benefitted from training in Cargo Security Management.
  
  The “Sub-regional Cargo Security Management Course”, which took place in Grenada from December 3 – 7, 2012, was organized by the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) of the Organization of American States (OAS), with training delivered by the US Transport Security Administration (TSA).
  
  The course was structured to challenge participants to explore cargo security with their own country’s particular needs in mind and prepare them to contribute to their National Cargo Security Program.
  
  Attending from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were Ms. Yvette George, Senior Airport Officer, E.T. Joshua Airport; Mr. Willisford Caesar, Security Manager, Airports Department; and Mr. Augustus John, Civil Aviation Officer, Maritime Administration.
  
  The officials were joined in Grenada by aviation security officers from that country, as well as officials from Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia.
  
  
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Represented at Ninth Meeting of Committee of Experts of MESECVI
  Mexico City, Mexico, Wednesday November 14, 2012
  
  From November 12 - 14, 2012, the Committee of Experts of the MESECVI held its Ninth Meeting in Mexico City, Mexico.
  
  Participating from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was Mrs. Miriam Roache.
  
  The MESECVI is the mechanism created to monitor progress in the implementation of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women. It is an independent, consensus-based system, comprised of experts appointed by each of the States Party to the Convention.
  
  In addition to other business, the Ninth Meeting considered two topics central to an effective response to violence against women: i) indigenous women's access to justice; and ii) indicators to monitor the exercise of women's right to a life free of violence.
  
  For more information, click the title of this item to visit the MESECVI webpage.
  
  
• Officials of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines receive further Training in Aviation Security
  Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, Friday November 9, 2012
  
  Three officials of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have received training in passenger interdiction through the Organization of American States (OAS).
  
  Ms. Yvette George, Aviation Security Supervisor, Aviation Department; Ms. Aleika Diamond, Immigration Officer II, Passports and Immigration Department; and Ms. Claudine Simmons, Junior Customs Officer, Customs and Excise, attended the Sub-regional Passenger Interdiction Training Course in St. Kitts and Nevis from November 6 – 9, 2012.
  
  The training course was convened by the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) of the Organization of American States, in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport of St. Kitts and Nevis.
  
  Training was delivered by experts from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Forensic Lab of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
  
  The four-day Course, which targeted front line officers and supervisors involved in clearing and processing international passengers and baggage, provided participants with the fundamental skills necessary to identify and intercept high risk passengers in an airport environment.
  
  
• CED General Manager attends Sixth Americas Competitiveness Forum
  Cali, Colombia, Friday October 26, 2012
  
  Mr. Felix Lewis, General Manager of the Centre for Enterprise Development, has participated in the Sixth Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF), held from October 24 – 26, in Cali, Colombia.
  
  The ACF, which was hosted by the Department of Economic Development, Trade & Tourism of the Organization of American States (OAS), is an annual event in which the countries of the Western Hemisphere exchange experiences, trends, efforts and initiatives on issues of innovation, with the aim of becoming more competitive.
  
  Mr. Lewis also participated in the Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Competitiveness Network (RIAC) – a high level mechanism that seeks to promote dialogue, cooperation, the exchange of experiences and best practices and the adoption of joint initiatives in the Americas.
  
  The Executive Secretariat for Integral Development of the OAS is the Technical Secretariat for RIAC.
  
  For further information, click this item’s header to visit the ACF website.
  
  
• OAS Prepares New Framework for Evaluating Drug Policy in the Region
  Washington DC, USA, Friday October 26, 2012
  
  Ms. Patsy Wyllie, Chief Health Educator at the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, has attended the Eleventh Meeting of the Inter-governmental Working Group (IWG) of the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) of the Organization of American States (OAS).
  
  The meeting was held on October 23 – 26, 2012, at OAS Headquarters in Washington DC, USA.
  
  For further information on the Eleventh Meeting of the MEM Inter-governmental Working Group, click this item's title for the meeting’s Press Release.
  
  
• Dr. Jerrol Thompson attends VII COMCYT
  Washington DC, USA, Friday October 19, 2012
  
  Dr. Jerrol Thompson, Special Advisor on Science and Technology, in the Office of the Prime Minister, has attended the VII Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Committee on Science and Technology (COMCYT).
  
  The VII COMCYT was held on October 18 - 19, 2012, at OAS Headquarters in Washington, DC, USA.
  
  The principal objectives of the Meeting were to follow-up on activities undertaken by Member States in compliance with the Plan of Action of Panamá 2012-2016, and on the advances made by the working groups created in the context of the Plan.
  
  Participants also worked to identify hemispheric cooperation mechanisms to promote the four pillars of COMCYT: innovation, human resources education and training, national quality infrastructure, and technological development.
  
  The COMCYT is a technical-political body for discussion in the area of science and technology formed by high-level representatives from ministries and high authorities in science and technology of the 34 OAS member states. Its main function is to promote hemispheric policies for partnership on the subject of scientific development, technology transfer, and the promotion of technological innovation, in accordance with the guidelines stemming from inter-American ministerial dialogue within the process of the Summits of the Americas.
  
  
• OAS Country Office Promotes OAS Scholarships and Student Loan Programme
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Thursday October 18, 2012
  
  The Office of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has participated in the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2012 College and Career Exhibition, held at the Methodist Church Hall on October 17 – 18, 2012.
  
  The Exhibition was organized by the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Medical Association, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, under the theme “Opening More Doors to the Future”.
  
  Available for distribution at the OAS booth were a range of brochures, leaflets and fliers on the OAS, its scholarship and student loan (Leo Rowe Fund) programs and OAS internships, as well as general information on the Organization, its membership and its work in the member states. A wide selection of OAS publications, magazines and booklets were also on display for those visitors who wished to browse more detailed information on specific OAS activities.
  
  On the first day of the Exhibition, OAS Country Representative, Mrs. Melene Glynn, delivered a presentation on OAS scholarships and the Leo Rowe Fund student loan facility. Members of OAS staff were present at the booth on both days of the Exhibition to speak with visitors about the Organization and to provide detailed information on study opportunities available to citizens.
  
  Further information on OAS scholarships, OAS internships and the Leo Rowe Fund, may be acquired:
  
  From the OAS Country Office: 2nd Floor, Nanton’s Building, Egmont Street, Kingstown; Tel: (784) 456 1314; Email: OASSaintVincent@oas.org;
  
  On the OAS scholarships website: http://www.oas.org/en/scholarships/default.asp; and
  
  On the Leo Rowe Fund website: www.oas.org/en/rowefund and Facebook page: www.facebook.com/rowefund
  
  
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Participates in OAS Maritime Security Workshop
  Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Thursday October 18, 2012
  
  Three officials of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have participated in a three-day OAS Workshop on Maritime Security.
  
  Mr. Lenroy Brewster, Chief of Port Police, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority; Mr. Deon Henry, Lieutenant, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard Service; and Ms. Bervina Myers, Corporal, Port Police, attended the Sub-Regional Workshop on Risk Assessment and Management in Maritime Security, in Trinidad and Tobago, on October 16 – 18, 2012.
  
  The workshop, which was organized by the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism of the Organization of American States (OAS/CICTE), assembled port facility security personnel from the region to discuss their approaches to risk management in maritime security, and provided an opportunity for participants to exchange best practices and national experiences.
  
  Participants were also exposed to the risk management approach adopted by both Canada and the United States and to the perspective of the International Maritime Organization.
  
  Key topics addressed during the Workshop included: current challenges in implementation of the ISPS code and other international maritime security standards, access controls, port facility risk assessment and mitigation and public-private partnerships, among others.
  
  
• OAS Hands Over Energy Materials and Equipment to the Ministry of Education
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Monday October 15, 2012
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS) has handed over educational materials and equipment to the Ministry of Education, to assist in the teaching of sustainable energy in schools.
  
  The materials and equipment were provided through the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Programme (CSEP), a four-year initiative executed by the OAS Department of Sustainable Development, with funding by the European Union and in partnership with the Caribbean Energy Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP).
  
  The goal of CSEP is to accelerate the transition toward cleaner, more sustainable energy use in its participating countries: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  One of its core actions in this regard, is to build human and institutional capacity among relevant stakeholders, to support the use and development of sustainable energy, including the promotion of education on and awareness of sustainable energy issues in the participating countries.
  
  To this end, CSEP, in collaboration with key stakeholders in energy and education in the participating countries, has developed the Caribbean Energy Education and Awareness Programme (CEEAP), which will reinforce and improve the institutional and pedagogic capacities of teachers and staff of the Ministries of Education, and improve the science curriculum in primary and secondary schools on the subject of energy conservation, its efficient use, and use of renewable energy sources.
  
  Learning materials and tools developed under CEEAP to assist in the teaching of sustainable energy were handed over to the Ministry of Education, along with ready-made toolkits.
  
  It is anticipated that the materials and equipment will first be used and assessed in one or two pilot classrooms, before being rolled out to the wider school system.
  
  In handing over the educational materials, OAS Country Representative, Melene Glynn, noted that the OAS is “ … happy to be able to provide this support to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as it moves towards a greater use of renewable energy and we look forward to our continued collaboration in this respect”.
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS), through its Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) and the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Programme (CSEP) has been working closely with the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines since 2009 to support its initiatives in the area of sustainable energy.
  
  
• OAS, CARICOM and CARILEC Convene Regional Sustainable Energy Workshops for Energy and Educator Stakeholders in the Caribbean
  Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, Wednesday September 19, 2012
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS) through its Department of Sustainable Development and the Energy Department of the Caribbean Community Secretariat are collaborating with the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) to accelerate the transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy in Caribbean countries.
  
  To this end the three organizations working under the umbrella of two EU-funded initiatives - the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program and the Caribbean Renewable Energy Capacity Support (CRECS) - co-hosted three regional workshops on sustainable energy on September 10 - 14, 2012 at the Marriott St. Kitts Resort in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
  
  The workshops were attended by official delegates from Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  Participating from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were Ellsworth Dacon, Director of the Energy Unit, Office of the Prime Minister; Irrith O’Garro, Teacher of Science, Health and Social Studies at the Kingstown Anglican School; and Lenski Adams, Science Teacher at the Girls High School.
  
  The first workshop on September 10-11, focused on building capacity for the design and implementation of sustainable energy and energy conservation awareness programs.
  
  The second workshop on September 12, which was attended by government officials from Ministries responsible for Education, and energy and climate change, as well as science school teachers, reviewed the Caribbean Energy Awareness and Education Programme (CEEAP) and its campaign Learn and Save, and explored avenues for its expansion as a follow-up to the CSEP. The intention is that CEEAP would help to reinforce institutional and pedagogic capacities to integrate in the curriculum, the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
  
  On September 13 and 14, a Teacher’s Sustainable Energy Workshop was held. The session was attended by government officials from the Ministries of Education and science school teachers. This session consisted of lectures and hands-on exercises in renewable sources of energy, energy efficiency and energy conservation. In addition, a package of educational materials and toolkits were handed-over to the six independent OECS countries and the Bahamas.
  
  The workshops were led by Dr. Alexandra Daval, an expert in Information and Communications and Mr. Jonathan Rand, who has taught thousands of teachers and students about wind energy, and has facilitated teacher workshops on renewable energy science across the United States as well as Canada, Costa Rica, Chile and Ireland. “We are pleased to bring to the region the extraordinary skills and experiences for the workshop leaders together with the deeply committed education and energy sector representatives of the Caribbean to help expand clean energy educational practices,” said Mark Lambrides, Energy and Climate Change Mitigation Section Chief at the OAS.
  
  The changes taking place in every aspect of today’s world have a powerful and immediate influence on the nature and function of professional educators, whose roles include the ability to mediate between students and the world around them. These challenges have already been recognized by the Education Ministers at the Twenty-second Meeting of OECS Ministers of Education held in Saint Kitts in 2012.
  
  Given that synergistic efforts are needed to strengthen the capacity building of government officials to implement educational and awareness programs that endorse sustainable energy in the Caribbean, the OAS is working closely with other relevant agencies, such as the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme, CARILEC, the University of the West Indies and the OECS Secretariat, among others.
  
  For more information contact:
  
  Carolina Peña
  CSEP-RCU Manager
  cpena@oas.org
  
  
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Hosts OAS Air Cargo Interdiction Training Course
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Friday September 14, 2012
  
  The Inter-American Committee against Terrorism of the Organization of American States (OAS/CICTE) has completed a five-day Air Cargo Interdiction Training course in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in collaboration with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
  
  The course, which was taught by experts from the CBSA, sought to increase the capacity of local air cargo interdiction authorities in interdiction techniques and search methods for contraband being smuggled into the country through aircraft or cargo, as well as health and safety considerations in the aircraft, cargo warehouse and ramp.
  
  Twenty-two (22) officials were trained from September 10 – 14, 2012, with sessions held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Room and at the E.T. Joshua Airport.
  
  
• CED and Ministry of Agriculture Participate in II Inter-American Dialogue of High Level MSME Authorities
  New Orleans, USA, Tuesday September 11, 2012
  
  Mr. Felix Lewis, General Manager of the Centre for Enterprise Development (CED) and Mr. Colville King of the Ministry of Agriculture, have attended the II Inter-American Dialogue of High Level MSME Authorities, held in New Orleans, USA.
  
  The Dialogue, which took place on September 10 – 11, 2012, was organized by the Department of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism of the Organization of American States (OAS/DEDTT), with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
  
  The objective of the event was to promote a regional dialogue among high-level MSME authorities on policies and programs to support innovation and the competitiveness of MSMEs, and to facilitate the exchange of best practices to strengthen this sector's contribution in OAS member states.
  
  It was convened in the margins of the Annual Conference of the Association of Small Business Development Centers of the United States (ASBDC), under the theme "Public Policies to Promote Competitiveness, Innovation and Internationalization of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).”
  
  
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines attends Work Session of Executive Board of the Inter-American Committee on Ports
  Washington DC, USA, Thursday September 6, 2012
  
  Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mr. Godfred Pompey, has attended the Second Work Session of the Executive Board of the Inter-American Committee on Ports (II CECIP), held in Washington DC, USA, on September 6, 2012.
  
  For information on the Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) and the meetings of the CECIP, please click this item's title to visit the CIP website.
  
  
• OAS Hosts Cyber Security and Cyber Crime Best Practices Workshop
  Miami, Florida, Thursday August 23, 2012
  
  The Inter-American Committee against Terrorism of the Organization of American States (OAS/CICTE) hosted a Workshop on Cyber Security and Cyber Crime in the Caribbean, in Miami, Florida, on August 22 – 23, 2012.
  
  The purpose of the Workshop was to analyze the Caribbean’s needs in the area of cyber security and to develop an action plan for meeting them.
  
  Attending from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were Dr. Jerrol Thompson, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on ICT and Corporal Emel Jacobs of the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.
  
  The workshop was jointly organized by the OAS/CICTE and the United States Department of Justice.
  
  For further information, click this item's title to see the Workshop's Press Release.
  
  
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Attends ICAO Aviation Security Course in Trinidad and Tobago
  Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuesday August 21, 2012
  
  Two Government officials of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have attended specialized aviation security training in Trinidad and Tobago.
  
  From August 13 – 21, 2012, Mrs. Yvette George, Aviation Security Supervisor and Mr. Augustus John, Civil Aviation Officer, attended the Aviation Security Instructors Course convened by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at the Aviation Security Regional Training Centre (ASTC) in Trinidad and Tobago.
  
  Their participation was financed by the Organization of American States’ Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (OAS/CICTE).
  
  The ICAO course was specifically designed to enable aviation security personnel to present specialized aviation security training courses to selected personnel, utilizing validated material-dependent course material, such as Standardized Training Packages (STPs) and Aviation Security Training Packages (ASTPs). Participants were instructed on how to apply the ICAO general principles of learning and instruction when conducting AVSEC training; correctly present valid material dependent training courses; and identify, select and prepare appropriate teaching aids.
  
  With the ICAO training, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has begun to build its capacity to meet the training demands of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme, in fulfilment of the requirements of ICAO Aviation Security Standards and Recommended Practices.
  
  
• OAS Country Representative Delivers Feature Address at Soroptimist 25th Anniversary Event
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Monday July 16, 2012
  
  Soroptimist International of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SISVG) celebrated their 25th Anniversary on July 14, 2012.
  
  Mrs. Melene Glynn, OAS Country Representative, was one of two Guest Speakers at their 25th Anniversary Lecture, held on the night of July 16, 2012 at Frenches House, Kingstown.
  
  Mrs. Glynn’s address, entitled “Women Working To Empower Women”, took its inspiration from the Soroptimist International 3E Project - “Educate, Empower, Enable - for Global Impact on Women and Girls to create opportunities to become female leaders of tomorrow”.
  
  Observing that in many instances, women were their own greatest critics, she called on women to work to empower each other, collaborating in positive ways to identify solutions to common issues.
  
  Acknowledging that Soroptimist International was already working to empower and enable women in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, she encouraged them to establish linkages with other like-minded organizations, to match the efforts that are being made globally to meet the challenges to women’s empowerment, to end violence against women, secure women’s rights, create gender-equitable societies and establish the presence of women at the highest levels of decision-making.
  
  Mrs. Glynn noted that there were many women and girls who lacked the resources they needed – whether education, opportunity, awareness, sanctuary, or simply guidance – to change their life circumstances. She urged the members of the audience to be resources and advocates for women in need, so that they might be enabled to move forward.
• OAS Sponsors Participation of Vincentian Hoteliers in Small Hotels Forum in Antigua
  St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, Thursday July 12, 2012
  
  Two Vincentian hoteliers are set to attend a Forum for Caribbean Small Hotels being held on July 12 – 13, 2012 in Antigua and Barbuda.
  
  Mrs. Kim Halbich of Paradise Beach Hotel and Mrs. Bianca Porter of Young Island, will represent Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the Forum, which is being convened by the Organization of American States (OAS), in conjunction with the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, with the support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Government of Luxembourg and the Government of Serbia.
  
  The Forum will provide opportunities for owners, operators and administrators of small hotels to access new information on service quality, the culture of hospitality, social responsibility, marketing, technological tools and information systems for the tourism sector and the use of social media by small hotels.
  
  The initiative is part of the OAS Office of Tourism’s Sustainable Tourism Program for 2012, under the auspices of the Small Tourism Enterprise Network (STEN) Project and focuses on improving the competitiveness of small and medium tourism enterprises.
  
  Owners and operators of small hotels from 14 Caribbean countries as well as public sector officials involved with the development and support of the small hotels sub-sector in the region are expected to participate.
• CED General Manager Receives OAS Award
  California, USA, Monday June 4, 2012
  
  Mr. Felix Lewis, General Manager of the Centre for Enterprise Development (CED), has received an OAS award to attend the training course “Promoting Innovation: Licensing Academy in Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialization”.
  
  The course, which will be held from June 4 - 13, 2012 at the University of California – Davis, will equip participants with the fundamentals on how to protect and manage intellectual property to support technology commercialization in the public sector or among small to medium size enterprises.
  
  The University of California accredited course, from which students can obtain professional-level credits, will cover topics such as U.S. and international IP protection, IP management for commercialization, licensing, IP issues in negotiating an international agreement, starting IP and technology transfer offices, start-ups and spin-offs from public sector institutions.
  
  To reinforce classroom presentations, the program will include hands-on case studies and field visits to various Northern California companies.
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Attends Major Events Workshop in Panama
  Panama City, Panama, Wednesday May 23, 2012
  
  On May 23 – 25, 2012, The Inter-American Committee against Terrorism of the Organization of American States (OAS/CICTE) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) convened the 5th International Permanent Observatory (IPO) Americas National Focal Points Meeting in Panama City.
  
  The main objective of IPO Americas is to facilitate mutual assistance and the sharing of best practices between participating countries towards the establishment of a permanent mechanism in the region to assist Major Events security planning.
  
  Assistant Commissioner of Police Michael F. Charles represented Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the Workshop.
  
  For further information, please see: http://www.unicri.it/news/2012/120523_major_events_americas/
• OAS Sponsors Vincentian Participant in CEM Training Course
  Castries, Saint Lucia, Tuesday May 22, 2012
  
  Mr. Ricardo Adams, Manager of ACES Caribbean - a private firm providing energy-saving solutions - has been sponsored by the Organization of American States to attend a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) Training Workshop in Saint Lucia on May 22 – 25, 2012.
  
  The four-day Workshop, which is being delivered by the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), targets professionals in the energy sector and entails three days of intensive study and training followed by the CEM exam.
  
  Mr. Adams was nominated for the sponsorship by the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, due to his specific interest in energy efficiency and renewable energy. It is expected that the knowledge and certification gained from the CEM Workshop will be made available to the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as it continues to pursue initiatives in the field of sustainable energy.
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines attends Third Conference of CIFTA
  Washington DC, USA, Monday May 14, 2012
  
  Michael F. Charles, Assistant Commissioner of Police in the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, has attended the Third Conference of States Party to the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials (CIFTA).
  
  The CIFTA, which was adopted in 1997, is the first legally binding instrument to prevent and combat firearms trafficking and offers a comprehensive framework for the development and implementation of national legislation and policies to this end.
  
  The Convention has been signed by all OAS member states and has been ratified by 31 states to date, including Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  The Conference was held at the Headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS), in Washington DC, USA, on May 14 – 15, 2012.
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Attends OAS Sub-Regional for Major Events in Kingston, Jamaica
  Kingston, Jamaica, Wednesday March 21, 2012
  
  On March 21 – 23, 2012, representatives of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines participated in a “Sub-Regional Workshop for Major Events Security in the Caribbean”, convened by the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism of the Organization of American States (OAS/CICTE).
  
  The Workshop, which was held in Kingston, Jamaica, engaged participants on issues surrounding the delivery of security and the prevention of crime before, during and after major events.
  
  Attending from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were Michael F. Charles, Assistant Commissioner of Police and Desmond Samuel, Station Sergeant, Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, as well as Michelle Forbes, Deputy Director, National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO).
• First National Congress of Women Convened in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Wednesday March 21, 2012
  
  On March 21 and 22, 2012, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines convened its First National Congress of Women, under the theme – “Women Rising!!! Crisis and Response - Women as Agents of Change”.
  
  The objectives of the Congress were to:
  
  1. Create an understanding in women of their role in National Development, within the context of the Beijing Platform for Action, the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality, and the Millennium Development Goals.
  
  2. Provide a forum for the voices of women in all sectors to be heard, including the concerns of rural women, the disabled, youth, indigenous women and Rastafari women.
  
  3. Build national solidarity among women and women in groups.
  
  Over one hundred and fifty (150) women attended the two days of discussions - as individuals and as representatives of a wide range of sectors and organizations.
  
  Senator Penelope Beckles-Robinson, Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago, was the Keynote speaker.
  
  The Congress was organized around six (6) plenary sessions, which focussed on:
  
  1. Indigenous Peoples
  2. Economic Development, Trade and Finance
  3. Peace and Security
  4. Leadership and Political Participation
  5. Health
  6. Education
  
  The Congress was planned and executed by a stakeholder committee led by the National Council of Women and including the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Country Office of the Organization of American States, the Ministry of National Mobilization, UWI Open Campus in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, SVG Non-State Actors Panel, Inivershall Rastafari Movement Inc, and Metrocint General Insurance Company Limited.
  
  Participants in the Congress conveyed their gratitude for the opportunity provided to be informed on issues, to discuss their collective concerns and to collaborate in determining solutions.
  
  The Congress Statement issued following the event, called on the Government, private sector and civil society organizations to address the concerns articulated by the representative gathering of the women of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  For more information or a copy of the Congress Statement, contact the OAS Country Office at (784) 456 1314 or OASSaintVincent@oas.org.
• Director of the Energy Unit Participates in Mexico Workshop on Energy Efficiency
  Mexico City, Mexico, Tuesday March 20, 2012
  
  Mr. Ellsworth Dacon, Director of the Energy Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister, has attended a Workshop on Mexico’s Experience in Energy Efficiency Strengthening, held in Mexico on March 21 ‐ 22, 2012.
  
  The objective of the Workshop was to share Mexico’s experiences in this area with other countries of the Americas, in order to promote cooperation in energy efficiency.
  
  It was organized by the Energy Secretariat (SENER) and the National Commission for the Efficient Use of Energy (CONUEE) of Mexico, in collaboration with the U.S. State Department and the Organization of American States (OAS), under the auspices of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA).
  
  Mr. Dacon’s participation was facilitated by the Organization of American States.
  
  In thanking the OAS, Mr. Dacon noted that the valuable experiences gained from his participation would "greatly assist in the strengthening of the Energy Unit and the nation as a whole as it relates to energy and its efficiency.”
• Attorney General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Visits El Salvador on OAS Anti-Corruption Mechanism (MESICIC) Mission
  San Salvador, El Salvador, Tuesday March 20, 2012
  
  The Attorney General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Hon. Judith Jones-Morgan, has visited El Salvador as a member of the Commission of the OAS Anticorruption Mechanism (Mechanism for Follow-Up on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption – MESICIC).
  
  The visit took place from March 20 – 23, 2012, with the consent of El Salvador.
  
  During its visit the Commission met with representatives of key Government agencies and the judiciary to collect information and to assess potential difficulties in the implementation of the Inter-American Convention. It also met with civil society organizations, the private sector, professional associations and other stakeholders in order to address issues of relevance.
  
  Details of the visit are available at the MESICIC website - http://www.oas.org/juridico/newsletter/nl_en_86.htm.
  
  The MESICIC is a cooperation mechanism between States, with the participation of civil society organizations, established within the framework of the OAS, in which the legal/institutional framework of each country is reviewed for suitability with the Inter-American Convention against Corruption as well as the objective results achieved therein.
• OAS Representative Encourages Support for National Congress of Women
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sunday March 11, 2012
  
  Mrs. Melene Glynn, OAS Country Representative, has encouraged the women of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to participate fully in their First National Congress, which will be held on March 21 – 22, 2012, in Kingstown.
  
  Speaking on the Views on Issues Programme, on March 11, 2012, Mrs. Glynn advised that the Congress would provide an opportunity for women to understand their role in national development, allow the voices of women from all sectors to be heard, and build national solidarity among women and women in groups.
  
  She invited women to turn out to discuss the issues, share their experiences, consider solutions and develop the strategies and alliances that would make those solutions a reality.
  
  The Congress is being organized by a Stakeholder Committee that came together in late 2010 to promote discussion and action in support of women's leadership and empowerment, sensitize the national community on women’s rights, gender equality and domestic violence and support the work of the National Council of Women.
  
  Members of the Committee are the National Council of Women, the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Country Office of the Organization of American States, the Ministry of National Mobilization, UWI Open Campus in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, SVG Non-State Actors Panel, Inivershall Rastafari Movement Inc., and Metrocint General Insurance Company Limited.
• OAS Country Representative Participates in International Women’s Day Radio Programme
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Thursday March 8, 2012
  
  OAS Country Representative, Mrs. Melene Glynn, appeared on NBC Radio’s morning show today, March 8th, to commemorate International Women’s Day.
  
  In her remarks she noted that while women around the world had accomplished many remarkable achievements during a long history of struggle, there was much work that remained to be done. She encouraged all who were working towards peace and security for women and for gender-equitable societies to continue to do so.
  
  The Country Representative also drew reference to remarks made by the OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza the previous day, March 7th, on the issue of women’s rights. Secretary General Insulza had noted that “Nowadays gender equality is acknowledged not only as a human right and a development goal, but as a smart economic policy.” Observing that “Women still access the labor market in a condition of disadvantage, unprotected, in unstable situations, lacking social security and with low income,” the OAS Head had called on all countries to “uphold and even strengthen” their commitment to gender equality.
  
  Mrs. Glynn was joined on the radio programme by Coordinator of Gender Affairs, Mrs. Polly Olliver, and Project Coordinator of the SVG Non-State Actors Panel, Ms. Angella Jackson.
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Participates in ICAO Certification Workshop
  Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Monday February 27, 2012
  
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has participated in a National Aviation Security Screener Certification Program Workshop organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
  
  Mr. Augustus John, Civil Aviation Officer within the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Department of Maritime Administration, participated in the Workshop which was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from February 27 – March 2, 2012.
  
  His participation was facilitated by a scholarship from the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism of the Organization of American States (OAS/CICTE).
  
  The five-day workshop provided participants with detailed information on and familiarization with the requirements for the screener certification process, to enable them to either develop a process for certifying screeners or to review their own country’s existing national requirements.
• Young Women’s Conference Held in Kingstown
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saturday February 18, 2012
  
  On Saturday, February 18, 2012 - the Day of the Women of the Americas - the OAS Country Office in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joined with partners in a Sub-Committee to the National Council of Women, to convene a "Young Women's Conference" in Kingstown.
  
  The Conference, which was held at the UWI Open Campus, assembled 49 young (and some not so young) women to discuss issues related to self-esteem, self-empowerment and conflict resolution and to impart essential life skills - particularly those important for the world of work. Participants also received information on the Day of the Women of the Americas and engaged with facilitators on the issues to be addressed at the First National Congress of Women of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines scheduled for March 21 – 22, 2012.
  
  A short opening ceremony heard remarks from Ms. Nelcia Hazell, President of the National Council of Women; Ms. Daliana Guanipa, Second Secretary of the Venezuelan Embassy; Ms. Melene Glynn, OAS Country Representative and Hon. Frederick Stephenson, Minister of National Mobilization, Social Development, the Family, Persons with Disabilities and Youth.
  
  Conference working sessions included “The Worth of a Woman”, facilitated by Ms. Judith Hull-Ballah, Coordinator of the Roving Caregivers Programme; “Conflict Resolution”, facilitated by Ms. Jacintha James, Independent Consultant, Training and Human Resource Management; and “Being the Best that You Can Be - Imaging and Presentation Skills for Young Women”, facilitated by Dr. Francesca Burnham-Onu, Medical Practitioner / Area Governor - Toastmasters International and Ms. Patrice Reddock, Fashion Designer / Cosmetologist / Entrepreneur.
  
  The Conference was executed with funding from the Government of Australia, through the National Council of Women.
  
  For further information, contact Ms. Melene Glynn, OAS Country Representative, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at mglynn@oas.org.
• OAS and the Energy Unit Convene Consultation on Geothermal Resource Development
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Monday February 13, 2012
  
  On February 13, 2012, the Organization of American States, through the European Union-funded “Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP)” and the Energy Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister, convened an energy stakeholder consultation in Kingstown on the preparation of a Draft Geothermal Resource Development Bill for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  The Consultation facilitated exchanges between officials of the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, energy stakeholders and OAS Consultant Judy Daniel Esq, Environmental Law and Development Specialist, and her team, on the policy and legislative framework for the development of geothermal resources and progress made to date in preparing the draft Bill.
  
  Opening remarks were delivered by Melene Glynn, OAS Country Representative and Dr. Jerrol Thompson, Director of Special Projects in the Office of the Prime Minister. An overview of the geothermal process and the context of geothermal legislation in relation to the National Energy Policy was presented by Ellsworth Dacon, Director of the Energy Unit.
  
  The Organization of American States, through CSEP, has been working in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines since 2008 to accelerate the transition toward cleaner, more sustainable energy use and to create an environment more conducive to the development and use of renewable energy and energy efficient systems.
  
  To date, CSEP has, among other initiatives, assisted the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the team from the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Program, which is financed by the Government of Germany, in developing and finalizing the National Energy Policy (which was approved in 2009) and the Energy Action Plan (which was approved in 2010). Both the Policy and the Plan contemplate geothermal energy as one of the options to be pursued in the generation of realistic, cost-effective, competitive and affordable alternative energy as a contribution to the national electricity matrix.
  
  This energy consultation took place within the context of CSEP’s commitment to support Energy sector regulatory reforms that favor sustainable energy and more specifically, the development of geothermal resources in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  For further information, contact Carolina Pena, Manager, CSEP Regional Coordinating Unit, Organization of American States at cpena@oas.org.
• Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organization of American States Initiates Project on the Relationship between Drugs and Crime
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Wednesday February 8, 2012
  
  On February 8 – 10, 2012, officials of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organization of American States (OAS) visited Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to initiate a survey project at Her Majesty’s Prisons.
  
  The project, which is being conducted in Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, focusses on the relationship between drug use and crime, and gathers information through face to face interviews with adult prisoners.
  
  The survey was piloted among prisoners in Grenada in 2010, and is one of a number of surveys conducted by CICAD in OAS member states over the years to collect scientific data on drug consumption in various segments of the population.
  
  The visiting team included Mr. Pernell Clarke, CICAD Specialist - Research and Information, Dr. Wendy Crawford, CICAD Consultant and Ms. Rachel Boyce, CICAD Project Assistant. They were joined in-country by Ms. Melene Glynn, OAS Country Representative.
  
  During the three-day visit, the team met with representatives of Her Majesty’s Prisons, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of National Security and conducted training sessions for the survey staff.
  
  The information generated by the survey will be utilized for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating national drugs and crime interventions and policies.
  
  For more information, contact Mr. Pernell Clarke at pclarke@oas.org.
• First National Congress of Women of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Launched
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuesday February 7, 2012
  
  A Press Conference to launch the First National Congress of Women of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was held at the Conference Room of the Embassy of Venezuela on February 7, 2012.
  
  Addressing the Conference were Ms. Nelcia Robinson-Hazell, President of the National Council of Women, Ms. Melene Glynn, OAS Country Representative and H.E. Yoel Perez Marcano, Ambassador of Venezuela.
  
  The Congress is being organized by a Committee of Stakeholders comprising the National Council of Women, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Embassy of Venezuela, the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, SVG Non-State Actors Panel, the Inivershall Rastafari Movement, Metrocint General Insurance Company Limited and the University of the West Indies Open Campus.
  
  Its objectives are to:
  
  1. Create an understanding in women of their role in National Development, within the context of the Beijing Platform for Action, the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals.
  
  2. Provide a forum for the voices of women in all sectors to be heard, including the concerns of rural women, the disabled, youth, indigenous women and Rastafari women.
  
  3. Build national solidarity among women and women in groups.
  
  The Congress will be held on March 21 - 22, 2012, at the Peace Memorial Hall in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
• Seminar on Port Management
  Villa, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuesday January 31, 2012
  
  The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority and the Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) of the Organization of American States (OAS) hosted a Seminar on Port Management, from January 31 to February 3, 2012, in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  The Seminar, which took place at the Sunset Shores Beach Hotel in Villa, targetted senior and middle managers of port companies, government officials responsible for ports, and senior staff of companies and organizations of port communities. Officials from eleven (11) CARICOM member states of the OAS attended – Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
  
  The Seminar focused on the more critical areas of port management, such as Trade, Shipping, Transport and Ports; Operation; Statistics and Performance Indicators; Planning and Development; Finance and Marketing; and Port Challenges.
  
  Participants were exposed to a wide range of knowledge, skills and techniques in areas critical to port management, including the organization and management of ports; international commerce and transport; the efficient and effective management of ports; and the importance of safety and security in the port sector.
• 30th Anniversary Celebration
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Monday December 5, 2011
  
  The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Country Office of the Organization of American States (OAS) came together on Monday, December 5, 2011, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the membership of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines of the OAS.
  
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joined the OAS - the oldest regional organization in the world - on December 3, 1981.
  
  The Anniversary Celebration, which was held under the theme – Celebrating 30 years of Hemispheric Collaboration – took place at the Methodist Church Hall, Kingstown, from 10:00 am. The proceedings were chaired by Ms. Keisha Phillips, Public Relations Officer at the Centre for Enterprise Development, which executed an OAS entrepreneurship development project in 2008/2010.
  
  Remarks were delivered by Ms. Melene Glynn, OAS Country Representative and by the Hon. Douglas Slater, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs. Mrs. Glynn and Dr. Slater together reviewed in-depth the work of the OAS in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines over the past three decades, and the benefits that have accrued to the country and its people.
  
  The Feature Address was delivered by Dr. the Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Dr. Gonsalves took the opportunity to trace the historical, social, cultural, economic and other linkages between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the other member states of the OAS, which provided a natural impetus for and now underpin their collaboration at the hemispheric level.
  
  Entertainment for the event was provided by Mr. Dexter Bacchus, an OAS Music Scholar, who rendered several pieces on saxophone; Mr. Alpheus “Observer” Duncan, winner of the OAS / Projects Promotions Limited 2011 Environmental Song Competition who performed his winning composition; and two members of the Roving Caregivers’ Project – a project partly funded by the OAS – who rendered a song about their work in Early Childhood Development.
  
  In the final act of the event, the gathering, led by Prime Minister Gonsalves, raised a Toast to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and to the OAS on their 30th Anniversary of collaboration.
  
  The 30th Anniversary Celebration was attended by Ministers of Government, senior government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, current and former OAS Staff Members, OAS Project Coordinators and beneficiaries, stakeholders, partners and well-wishers.
• IPO Americas Workshop in Preparation for Carnivals and Festivals
  Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuesday November 29, 2011
  
  Mr. Stanford Hamilton, Chief Immigration Officer of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, will participate in the "IPO Americas Workshop in Preparation for Carnivals and Festivals", which will be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from November 29 to December 2, 2011.
  
  The Workshop is being convened by the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism of the Organization of American States (OAS-CICTE), and the Security Governance Counter Terrorism Laboratory (SG/CT Lab) of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), in collaboration with CARICOM/IMPACS.
  
  The principal objective of the Workshop is to establish common regional guidelines for the security planning of Carnivals and Festivals, focusing on evaluation, coordination, prevention, and risk analysis.
  
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to Participate in Workshop on Best Practices in Cyber-Security and Cyber-Crime
  Bogota, Colombia, Monday November 28, 2011
  
  Mr. Andre Bailey, Director of the Information Technology Services Division of the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Constable Emel Jacobs of the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, will attend a Workshop on Best Practices in Cyber-Security and Cyber-Crime in Bogota, Colombia, from November 28 to 30, 2011.
  
  The Workshop has been jointly organized by the Organization of American States through its Secretariat of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) and the Department of Legal Cooperation of the Secretariat for Legal Affairs, the United States Department of Justice, and the Government of Colombia.
  
  Some thirty (30) experts from around the world will join officials of the organizing agencies to consider the investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes, the protection of critical infrastructures and the development of national cyber-security strategies, among other topics
• OAS Supports Energy Week 2011 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sunday November 13, 2011
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS) has assisted the Energy Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister in executing Energy Week in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  The week was observed from November 13 to 18, 2011 under the theme “You have the Power to Conserve”. The OAS provided just over US$8,000 in funding to activities developed by the Energy Unit during that period.
  
  The overall objective of Energy Week - to inform the national community on energy issues - falls within the mandate of the OAS-executed Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP), which is working to educate and sensitize nationals and residents in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and six other Caribbean countries on issues relating to the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy conservation. CSEP is a joint project funded by the European Union (EU) in partnership with the CARICOM Secretariat, Caribbean Electric Utilities Association (CARILEC) and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP).
  
  The week of activities in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines included a Seminar on Energy Efficiency, a live discussion on national radio on Energy issues, and other activities.
  
  The annual celebration of Energy Week was mandated by the Thirty-Fifth Special Meeting of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Energy, which was held in Georgetown, Guyana on March 22 - 24, 2011.
  
• Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the OAS Launch Agro-Tourism Site at Peter's Hope
  Peter's Hope, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Friday October 14, 2011
  
  The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Organization of American States (OAS) have come together to launch the first Agro-Tourism Site in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – the Peter’s Hope Plant Germplasm Conservation Site.
  
  On Friday, October 14, 2011, representatives of Government and the OAS Country Office formally declared the site open, during the annual World Food Day Exhibition at the Peter’s Hope location.
  
  Funding for the rehabilitation and improvement of the site, and the installation of signage to facilitate its use by visitors and locals, was provided by the Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (FEMCIDI)) of the OAS, through the project “Development and Strengthening of Agro-Tourism Linkages”.
  
  The Agro-Tourism project supports the generation of increased farm income through the development of agro-tourism products at three (3) pilot agro-tourism sites, and has trained farm managers, workers and other stakeholders to conduct guided visitor tours at the farm level.
  
  Addressing the audience at the launch were the Hon. Montgomery Daniel, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry and Fisheries; Hon. Maxwell Charles, Minister of National Reconciliation, Information, Postal Services and Information Services; Mr. Reuben Robertson, Chief Agricultural Officer, and Ms. Melene Glynn, OAS Country Representative.
• 30th Anniversary of the Accession of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the OAS
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saturday December 3, 2011
  
  On December 3rd, 2011, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of its accession to the Organization of American States.
  
  Activities to mark the occasion are being developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Consumer Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the OAS Office in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  Keep checking this page for updates.
• The Day of the Women of the Americas
  Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Kingstown, Friday February 18, 2011
  
  On Friday, February 18, 2011, the member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS) celebrated the Day of the Women of the Americas.
  
  The Day of the Women of the Americas was established in 1982, through a Resolution of the OAS General Assembly, to commemorate the creation of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM) - the first official inter-governmental agency in the world, founded expressly to ensure recognition of the civil and political rights of women. Since its inauguration in 1928, the CIM has evolved into the principal forum for debating and formulating policy on gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Americas. By commemorating the Day, the OAS General Assembly has recognized the vital role that the women of the Americas have played, as agents of social change.
  
  The main objective of the Day is to stimulate new initiatives and establish programs of action dedicated to involving women fully and permanently in their countries’ development. For 2011, the twenty-ninth year of recognition of the Day, the CIM encouraged the participation of all Member States in the celebration of women’s roles as fundamental actors and vital constituents in their societies.
  
  In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a Press Event to commemorate the Day was convened at the Venezuelan Embassy, through the collaborative efforts of a number of institutions, including the OAS Office in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Ministry of National Mobilization, the National Council of Women, the Venezuelan Embassy, Rastafari Women and The Vincentian Newspaper, among others.
  
  Persons attending the Event heard the official Message for the Day issued by Mr. Jose Miguel Insulza, OAS Secretary General, along with statements from the Honourable Frederick Stephenson, Minister responsible for Gender Affairs, Ms. Silma McLean, Vice-President of the National Council of Women and H.E. Yoel Perez Marcano, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
• Women, Democracy and Leadership - A Panel Discussion
  Peace Memorial Hall, Kingstown, Monday February 28, 2011
  
  
  
  Ms. Audrey Walters-Butler - Treasurer, National Council of Women / Farmer

  
  Ms. Girlyn Miguel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

  
  Ms. Rene Baptiste, Senior Partner, Baptiste & Co. Law Firm Inc.

  
  Ms. Irene Sandiford-Garner, Vice-President, Inter-American Commission of Women
  
  On February 28, 2011, the OAS Office in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the National Council of Women and the Ministry of National Mobilization, in collaboration with women’s groups and partners, convened a Panel Discussion on “Women, Democracy and Leadership”, in Kingstown.
  
  The Panel Discussion was organized to commemorate the Day of the Women of the Americas (February 18) and International Women’s Day (March 8), and convened women leaders from throughout Saint Vincent & the Grenadines to discuss enabling mechanisms for elevating more women into leadership positions – particularly in the political sphere.
  
  The impetus for the Panel Discussion came from the "Venezuela / OAS Joint Working Meeting to Review the Public Policies and Community Actions Developed in Support of the Women of St. Vincent and the Grenadines during 2010", which was convened by the Embassy of Venezuela and the OAS Office in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, on November 17, 2010, in Kingstown.
  
  That meeting, which assembled women leaders from throughout the country, agreed that there was a need for an action-oriented agenda which would ameliorate the circumstances and advance the cause of Vincentian women.
  
  The objective of the Panel Discussion was to make a step in that direction, while acknowledging two dates of significance for women within the Americas and internationally.
  
  Speaking at the Panel Discussion were:
  
   Ms. Girlyn Miguel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education
  
   Ms. Audrey Walters-Butler, Treasurer, National Council of Women
  
   Ms. Rene Baptiste, Senior Partner, Baptiste & Co. Law Firm Inc.
  
   Ms. Irene Sandiford-Garner, Vice-President, Inter-American Commission of Women / Senator and Parliamentary Secretary – Ministry of Health, Barbados
  
  For further information, contact the OAS Office in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines.
  
  
• Empowering Young Women for Leadership
  Peace Memorial Hall, Kingstown, Monday February 28, 2011
  
  On February 28, 2011, the OAS Office in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the National Council of Women and the Ministry of National Mobilization, in collaboration with women’s groups and partners, convened the Seminar “Empowering Young Women for Leadership”, in Kingstown.
  
  The Seminar was one of three activities organized to commemorate the Day of the Women of the Americas (February 18) and International Women’s Day (March 8), and convened young women leaders – at the high school and college level – with the objective of guiding and motivating them for future action and leadership.
  
  The impetus for the Leadership Seminar came from the “Venezuela / OAS Joint Working Meeting to Review the Public Policies and Community Actions Developed in Support of the Women of St. Vincent and the Grenadines during 2010”, which was convened by the Embassy of Venezuela and the OAS Office in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, on November 17, 2010, in Kingstown.
  
  That meeting, which assembled women leaders from throughout the country, agreed that there was a need for an action-oriented agenda which would ameliorate the circumstances and advance the cause of Vincentian women.
  
  Speaking at the Seminar were:
  
   Ms. Kamecia Blake, Assistant Superintendent of Police
  
   Dr. Kenneth Onu, Opthalmologist / Motivational Speaker
  
   Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner, Vice-President, Inter-American Commission of Women
  / Senator and Parliamentary Secretary - Health, Barbados
  
  For further information on the Leadership Seminar, contact the OAS Office in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines.