OECS Council of Ministers of Environment Sustainability (COMES 5) to be Held in Montserrat

The Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Lands, Housing and the Environment (MATLHE) is preparing to welcome more than 40 delegates to the island, for the OECS 5th Council of Ministers of Environment and Sustainability (COMES5) Meeting next week.

“Building Resilience in the Frontline of Climate Change” is the theme for the July 10th and 11th meeting.

It aims at providing an avenue for environment ministers in the region to take a unified position on matters affecting their environment.

The opening ceremony will be held at the Montserrat Cultural Centre on Tuesday July 10th at 6:30p.m.

Chairman and Honourable Environment Minister, David Osborne, will address the gathering along with other speakers who will deliver remarks pertaining to environment and climate change issues on Montserrat and across the region.

As part of the meeting, the delegates will deliberate on several matters to include strengthening disaster preparedness and response coordination; The Blue and Green Economies; and Energy resilience among others.

Minister Osborne notes that this year’s theme is important given the devastation experienced in the region last year. 

He said, following last year’s catastrophic hurricane season, there is heightened awareness and drive in the region for everyone to become more resilient to these natural hazards which are influenced greatly by climate change.  

The delegates, including OECS Environment Ministers, technical officers and regional partners will start arriving here this weekend.