Hon. Pickering and other delegates from different overseas countries and territories, who attended the the event. Photo: ec.europa.euron

In a document signed by twenty-one overseas territories, governed by the British, including the Virgin Islands, it was stated that “the global financial crisis and economic recession has caused considerable disruption to the economies of the EU and OCTs, constrained the resources of the EU and has increased the vulnerability of OCTs to varying degrees, making the future relationship with the EU even more critical to their future sustainable development.” 

This document which was signed by the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Hon. Kedrick Pickering in Brussels on January 23, 2012, was laid during the second sitting of the second session of the second House of Assembly on September 3, 2012. 

The document is designed to strengthen a mutually beneficial, comprehensive and unique partnership with the European Union, based on European citizenship and on the concept of European Family, considering the diversity of the OCTs’ needs and assets in tern of development and regional cooperation. 

The document added that the EU has taken into account the changes and developments in challenges and opportunities for OCTs since the 2001 Overseas Association Decision (OAD) and is working in partnership with OCTs and member states to increase OCT competitiveness, lessen their vulnerability and strengthen regional cooperation in the framework of the revision of the OAD. 

The other members of the Overseas Countries and Territories who were present to sign the document, were: Anguilla, Aruba, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Falkland Islands, Greenland, Mayotte, Montserrat, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Saba, Saint Barthelemy. St. Eustatius, Saint Helena (Ascension, Tristan de Cunah,) Saint Marten, Saint Pierre and Maquelon, territory of the French southern and Anarctic lands, Turks and Caicos and Wallis and Futana.