OECS Convenes Tenth Meeting of Council of Ministers: Human and Social Development

OECS Media Release

26/10/2026

As countries worldwide navigate shifting socio-economic landscapes, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) remains steadfast in its mission to drive regional integration, economic union, and sustainable development to enhance the lives of OECS citizens.

From October 7-8, 2026, aligned with OECS Strategic Priority 5: Advance Equity and Inclusion, the OECS Commission convened the Tenth Meeting of the Council of Ministers: Human and Social Development (COM: HSD). Hosted by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines under the theme "Advancing Social Protection in the OECS: Policy, Practice and Learning", the meeting brought together Ministers responsible for social development to discuss social protection. Permanent Secretaries with instruments of power, international development partners and key representatives from the OECS Commission were also in attendance.

The meeting marked the formal transition of the Chair from the Honourable Isalean Phillip, Minister of Social Development, Gender Affairs, Human Ageing and Disabilities, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, to the Honourable Shevern John, Minister of Social Welfare, Community Empowerment, Ecclesiastical Affairs and National Heritage, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Emphasising the urgent need for robust regional safety nets amidst compounding environmental and economic crises, the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Honourable Dr Godwin Friday, highlighted the Council's crucial mandate at the Opening Ceremony. He stated:

"Natural disasters have disrupted our homes and livelihoods. The cost of living crisis has affected all of us in the region, and continues to do so because of the wars in far-off places that we have nothing to do with, but they affect us very directly. Our governments have to respond within the limitations of our meagre resources; that makes the work of this Council so important."

Director General of the OECS, His Excellency Dr Didacus Jules, underscored that social protection is fundamentally about institutional resilience during severe upheaval. Highlighting that when catastrophic events occur, it is not merely physical walls and roofs that must hold but our social protection systems, he stated:

"In April 2010, La Soufrière erupted, and thousands of Vincis had to be moved out of the path of danger. In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl tore through the Southern Grenadines and through Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Grenada. On both occasions, it is not only walls and roofs that had to hold. It was the systems, as the Prime Minister pointed out, and the Minister. It is the systems that support, that find a family, feed a child, put support in the hands of a household that has lost everything. That is the work of us here in this room."

Reflecting on the milestones achieved during her tenure, Outgoing Chair, Honourable Isalean Phillip, highlighted the region's progress in advancing inclusive social policies. She stated:

"Through support from the Caribbean Development Bank, the Enhanced Country Poverty Assessments for the British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were completed. A high-level forum on the results of the Enhanced Country Poverty Assessment Project was convened in Saint Lucia in August 2025, under the theme "Inform, Engage, Transform: Leveraging Poverty Data for Equity and Sustainable Development". These reports and convenings are tangible examples of the evidence that is required to inform decision-making which transforms the lives of our citizens across the OECS region."

Looking ahead, incoming Chair, the Honourable Shevern John, outlined the vision for her term focused on practical execution and regional integration. She stated:

"This Council's work speaks directly to the values at the heart of my portfolio. Social welfare means that people are supported with dignity when they are the most vulnerable. Community empowerment is about ensuring that individuals and communities are not simply recipients of support but active participants in shaping their own development. I look forward to building on the foundation and carrying the work forward with a clear commitment to partnership, purpose, and practical action."

Throughout the two-day session, delegates reviewed the OECS Commission Status Report and committed to the Commission's ongoing work. They evaluated key achievements, innovative strategies, and best practices to elevate human and social empowerment across Member States.

Major outcomes of the Tenth Meeting of the Council of Ministers: Human and Social Development include:

i. Endorsement of the Regional Disability Assessment (Cradle-to-Career Approach): Recognising that institutional responsibility for disability affairs varies across the region, Member States evaluated disability through a comprehensive cradle-to-career lens. Ministers formally endorsed a groundbreaking regional assessment on the situation of children and young people with disabilities, reaffirming their commitment to evidence-based policies and programs that improve outcomes for youth with disabilities.

ii. Support from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB): The Council acknowledged support from donor partner CDB in conducting Disability Assessment Policy Briefs and establishing Disability Inclusion Action Plans across OECS Member States.

iii. Strengthening the Regional Care Economy: Building on a survey conducted by UN Women regarding unpaid and paid care in the Caribbean and the OECS, the Council agreed to champion and strengthen the care economy across all Member States.

iv. OECS Community of Practice on Adaptive Social Protection and Centralised Data Platform: To eliminate national silos and enhance regional collaboration, delegates agreed to establish a single, unified data platform where OECS social protection data can be gathered, accessed, and shared. Ministers also formally endorsed the establishment and phased operating model for the OECS Community of Practice on Adaptive Social Protection, ensuring alignment with the OECS Social Inclusion and Social Protection Action Plan 2023-2030 and leveraging existing OECS governance and learning mechanisms.

As the Tenth Meeting of the Council of Ministers successfully concludes, the OECS Commission and its Member States have laid a decisive foundation for the future of regional social development. By breaking down national silos, championing disability inclusion, strengthening the care economy, and institutionalising the Community of Practice on Adaptive Social Protection, the region is well-equipped to turn strategic vision into tangible impact. The commitments forged in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines underscore a unified resolve to build robust, inclusive, and adaptive social protection systems that leave no citizen of the OECS region behind.