The plan was discussed Tuesday when the US Ambassador to the OECS and Barbados, Linda Taglialatela paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of the OECS Dr. Didicus Jules.

 They also discussed several cooperation matters and ways to strengthen the common bond between the USA and the OECS.

The Juvenile Justice Reform Project 2 (JJRP2) supported by USAID  aims at encouraging social reintegration of young people involved in conflict with the law through alternative sentencing programme.

“The United States of America and OECS have enjoyed a strong collaboration in part facilitated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which is one of the major partners of the Organisation,” Jules told reporters.

The Early Learners Education Programme is one of the major OECS/USAID initiatives.

It aims at improving the level of literacy of young learners (Grade K to Grade 3) in six member states: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia,and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The programme is being implemented by the Education Development Management Unit of the Commission, Jules said.

The OECS, USAID and UNICEF have also collaborated on the development of a regional database programme ”OECS Info 2.0” launched in June .

The OECS Director General explained that this centralised database facilitates public access to social and economic statistics of Member States and serves as an important tool for students and the media in this regard.

“OECS Info 2.0 also has a strategic dimension in that it provides accurate statistics to enhance decision making at the policy level in respect of national and regional development initiatives,” he said.