{"id":253909,"date":"2025-10-15T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=253909"},"modified":"2025-10-15T09:06:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T13:06:05","slug":"antigua-and-barbudas-foreign-minister-showcases-key-initiatives-at-oecs-council-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/antigua-and-barbudas-foreign-minister-showcases-key-initiatives-at-oecs-council-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Antigua and Barbuda Attends 8th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)<\/a> convened the 8th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (COM:FA) on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meeting, held against the backdrop of global geopolitical volatility, economic uncertainty, and climate crises, brought together OECS Foreign Ministers to chart a unified course on matters critical to the resilience and survival of small island developing states.<\/p>

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The Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules, underscored the urgency of the Council\u2019s work, emphasizing that the challenges facing the region demand swift, coordinated, and sustained action.<\/p>

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He highlighted that the Council\u2019s deliberations are not just procedural, but vital to shaping policies and programmes that directly impact the resilience, sustainability, and prosperity of OECS Member States. He said:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIn the face of turbulence, our mandate is clear: to safeguard resilience, defend sovereignty, and chart a sustainable future for our people. The complexity of today\u2019s environment reinforces one central truth: our strength lies in solidarity and strategy. We cannot influence global outcomes alone, but together we can ensure our voices are heard and our interests are defended.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Looking ahead to his tenure as incoming Chair of the COM:FA, Hon. Frederick Stephenson, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, emphasised:<\/p>

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\u201cOur states, though modest in size, are indispensable voices in the global community, and we must continue to advocate for the relevance of small states. The seas are rising, but so too is our steadfastness. The challenges gather, but so too does our unity. And in this eighth meeting of COM:FA, may we craft not only a record of proceedings, but a roadmap worthy of our peoples\u2019 hopes and history\u2019s demands \u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The session commenced with the handover of the Chairmanship from the Hon. Alva Baptiste, Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs of Saint Lucia, to the Hon. Frederick Stephenson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Consumer Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ministers deliberated on a wide range of issues and agreed on decisive steps to safeguard and advance the OECS interests, including:<\/p>

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