CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The European Union director for the Caribbean and Latin America, Félix Fernández-Shaw, is wrapping up a three-day visit to St. Lucia on Tuesday after holding bilateral meetings with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission and the governments of the sub-regional groupings.
An EU statement said that the primary purpose of Fernandez-Shaw’s visit was to advance discussions on the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda (GGIA) with partner countries in the Eastern Caribbean.
The GGIA represents the European Union’s offer to bridge the investment gap in the region, utilizing public financing to leverage private capital and investment. The Investment Agenda provides a framework for the EU’s continued support of ongoing regional efforts to advance a green and just transition.
In his discussions with the OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules, the EU official discussed how to strategically work in renewable energy, water management, climate finance, digital transition, maritime transport, and sargassum, including attracting European investments in these sectors.
“A productive meeting also took place with OECS Ministers in charge of digital affairs to discuss the opportunities for the OECS countries to advance their ambitious digital agenda in partnership with the EU under the EU-LAC Digital Alliance,” the statement said.
It said that during his bilateral talks with Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre and other ministers, they “discussed areas of mutual interest to St. Lucia and the EU, in particular the implementation of the GGIA” here.
Prime Minister Pierre and Fernandez-Shaw also inaugurated the Piaye Bridge, which was reconstructed and expanded after it was destroyed by an extreme weather trough in 2013 that cut off access to the southwestern part of the island for 15 days.
Rehabilitation of the bridge was one of the major activities under the World Bank Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project initiative, of which the EU contributed Euro 6.1 million (One Euro=US$1.29 cents) in grant aid specifically towards the bridge works and other infrastructure rehabilitation in Anse La Raye, west of here.
“The overall aim of the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project was to reduce St. Lucia’s vulnerability to Climate Change and extreme weather hazards. The new 25-meter long double-lane structure is designed to withstand hazard events, which are predicted to increase in frequency in the region as a result of climate change,” the statement said.
Apart from St. Lucia, Fernandez-Shaw will also travel to Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica.
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