𝐎𝐄𝐂𝐒 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭. 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐬

BASSETERRE: The Federation took center stage in regional tourism development Wednesday as the 9th Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Council of Ministers: Tourism opened at the St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort, with Minister The Hon. Marsha T. Henderson assuming the council’s chairmanship.

The ceremony brought together tourism ministers and senior officials from across the Eastern Caribbean, marking a significant moment as leadership transitions from Grenada to St. Kitts & Nevis. Senator the Honourable Adrian Thomas of Grenada, the outgoing Chairman, participated in the handover alongside OECS Director General H.E. Dr. Didacus Jules.

Minister Henderson’s appointment positions the Federation at the forefront of shaping regional tourism policy and sustainable development strategies for the Eastern Caribbean. Her portfolio spans Tourism, Civil Aviation, International Transport, Employment and Labour, and Urban Development, bringing comprehensive expertise to the role.

The high-level gathering included Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, alongside ministers from Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, and representatives from Guadeloupe. Both St. Kitts Permanent Secretary Tivanna Wharton and Nevis Permanent Secretary John Hanley attended, demonstrating the Federation’s unified commitment to tourism advancement.

The council serves as the primary platform for coordinating tourism development across OECS member states, addressing challenges from sustainable growth to climate resilience and economic recovery. With tourism representing a cornerstone of the Federation’s economy, Henderson’s chairmanship offers St. Kitts & Nevis unprecedented influence in regional policy-making.

The multi-day conference will focus on collaborative strategies for enhancing the Eastern Caribbean’s tourism competitiveness while ensuring sustainable practices that protect the region’s natural and cultural resources for future generations.

This marks the Federation’s first time chairing the OECS Tourism Council in recent years, signaling growing recognition of its tourism sector leadership.