St Kitts-Nevis holds bilateral meeting with Norway

(Press Release) On the heels of engaging with the Prime Minister of Norway, Her Excellency Erna Solberg during a breakfast meeting focused on resolving the political crisis in Venezuela, the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris sat down with his Norwegian counterpart again on Friday, July 5th, 2019, this time for a bilateral meeting.

Today’s bilateral meeting explored areas of potential engagement and cooperation between the Kingdom of Norway and the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, and considered how Norway could lend its expertise to help improve climate change adaptation, healthcare delivery and national security in the Caribbean country.

The bilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of the 40th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government at the Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Resort. Senior Minister, the Honourable Vance Amory attended the bilateral along with Her Excellency Ingrid Mollestad, the first Ambassador of Norway to CARICOM, and other members of the two countries’ delegations.

The Norwegian Prime Minister, who was invited to attend the CARICOM Meeting in Saint Lucia as guest of honour, gave an address yesterday during the plenary session, outlining Norway’s efforts relating to the oceans and climate change.

At today’s bilateral meeting, Prime Ministers Harris and Solberg discussed the value of Norway providing technical assistance for Small Island Developing States like St. Kitts and Nevis, to help them access climate financing such as that which is available through the United Nations Green Climate Fund – the biggest global climate fund in the world.

Norway is represented on the 24-member board of the Green Climate Fund, which supports low-emissions and climate-resilient development in developing countries. The Green Climate Fund has amassed a portfolio valued at USD $5 billion, comprising over 100 projects in almost 100 developing countries.

The Norwegian Prime Minister took the opportunity to mention the international conference Our Ocean 2019 that will be held in Norway’s capital of Oslo from October 23rd to 24th, 2019. It will focus on the following areas of action: climate change, marine pollution, marine protected areas, maritime security, sustainable fisheries and sustainable blue economy.

In addition to Senior Minister, the Honourable Vance Amory, the St. Kitts-Nevis delegation to the 40th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government include St. Kitts and Nevis’ OECS Commissioner and Ambassador to CARICOM, His Excellency Mr. Sydney Osborne; Senior Foreign Service Officer and Desk Officer for CARICOM Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Berridge, and Press Secretary, Ms. Valencia Grant.