CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (October 26, 2010) — Nevis’ Minister of Environment, the Honourable Carlisle Powell was among the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States [OECS] ministers who lobbied for a committee of past, current and future environmental meeting chairmen to ensure a smooth transition of ideas and the successful hosting of the annual OECS Ministers of Environment Meeting.

Minister Powell, who is the current chairman of the committee and was responsible for last week’s hosting of the 14^th annual meeting, held on Nevis, told the Department of Information that he was not satisfied with the way in which the transition from one chairman to the next was previously done.

“There seem to have been a disconnect in the past in that there was not a council in place to continue the work after the annual meeting.

“The OECS Secretariat has plug that gap by putting forward a proposal which was unanimously accepted that we have this council where you will have the past, the current and incoming chairmen who will be responsible for running the Environmental Policy Committee [EPC] as a small group outside of the annual general meeting,” Minister Powell explained.

He is of the view that the formation of the EPC provides an opportunity for the current chairman to get advice from the past chairman while at the same time grooming the incoming chairman.

As a result of the committee’s recent formation coupled with the “hardworking efforts” of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communication and Works, Mr. Ernie Stapleton,  Minister Powell said that he was “absolutely satisfied” with the organization and planning of last week’s two-day meeting.