Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley and Minister for Health and Social Development Vincent Wheatley are attending the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Antigua and Barbuda.
The conference, which runs from May 27 to May 30, is centered on the theme “Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity.”
The Virgin Islands delegation departed the territory on Sunday, ahead of the conference’s commencement on Monday. The event aims to review the sustainable development progress of SIDS and to propose a new decade of partnerships and solutions to achieve resilience in collaboration with the international community.
In his remarks ahead of the conference, Premier Wheatley emphasized the importance of the event in highlighting the unique challenges faced by the Virgin Islands and other Overseas Territories (OTs).
“This Conference will allow us to lobby regional and international partners to support our strategic position as it relates to better positioning ourselves to advance climate resilience, sustainable development, and the realisation of our sustainable development goals,” Premier Wheatley stated.
The premier’s focus will be on addressing the exclusion of OTs from development finance due to their status and advocating for enhanced support from regional and international stakeholders. The conference is seen as a crucial platform for voicing these concerns and securing necessary partnerships.
During Premier Wheatley’s absence, the duties of the premier and minister for finance will be carried out by the Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye Rymer. Additionally, Junior Minister for Agriculture Dr. the Honourable Karl Dawson has been appointed to act as Minister for Health and Social Development from May 26 to May 31.
The SIDS conference is expected to bring together key policymakers, experts, and stakeholders from across the globe to share insights and strategies for bolstering the resilience and prosperity of small island nations.