The Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Dr. Didacus Jules, has extended congratulations to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and Minister of Tourism Charles “Max” Fernandez following his election as Chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism.
Minister Fernandez was elected during the CTO’s Annual General Meeting, succeeding the Honourable Ian Gooding-Edghill of Barbados. Alongside Minister Fernandez’s appointment, Colin James, Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, has assumed the chairmanship of the CTO Board of Directors.
Describing the election as a proud moment for Antigua and Barbuda and the OECS region, Dr. Jules praised Minister Fernandez’s record of steady, practical leadership at the helm of one of the Caribbean’s most dynamic tourism economies.
Dr. Jules emphasized that the new leadership takes office at a demanding period for the sector, pointing to key regional priorities:
- Sustainability: The climate crisis poses direct threats to coastal infrastructure, reefs, and beaches, while destination resilience is further challenged by severe storms, sargassum influxes, and escalating energy and insurance costs.
- Economic Inclusion: Noting that too large a share of visitor dollars currently leaves the region, Dr. Jules called for deeper integration of local farmers, fishers, artisans, creatives, and small entrepreneurs into the tourism value chain, alongside expanded local ownership and youth opportunities.
- Growth and Connectivity: The region must prioritize maximizing yield per visitor rather than focusing solely on arrival counts, requiring reliable intra-regional air and sea connectivity, improved earnings retention, and better data to guide investment.
Stating that regional unity is necessary to address these shared economic hurdles, Dr. Jules affirmed that the OECS Commission stands ready to collaborate with Minister Fernandez, CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper, and the wider membership.
The Director General also commended outgoing Chair Minister Gooding-Edghill for his stewardship and congratulated newly elected Vice Chairs: Saint Kitts and Nevis (for CARICOM countries), the British Virgin Islands (for British Overseas Territories), and Saint-Martin (for French-speaking territories). He noted that Saint-Martin’s election paves the way for deeper engagement with Francophone Associate Members of the OECS.
