Last Updated on February 12, 2026, 8:29 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Minister of Tourism, Marsha Henderson has assumed the office of the Chair of the OECS Council of Ministers: Tourism. The Minister assumed her new position during the opening ceremony of the 9th Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Council of Ministers: Tourism (COM|TO).
The opening ceremony was hosted in St Kitts at the St Kitts Marriott Resort and has a number of tourism stakeholders in attendance. The opening ceremony of the OECS council of Ministers Tourism meeting was attended by several representatives, government diignitaries, officers of the tourism industry and industry partners from all over the eastern caribbean region.
The Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, et al, Marsha Henderson is succeeding Adrian Thomas as the Chairperson of the OECS Council of Ministers: Tourism. Thomas serves as the Minister for Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture for Grenada.
The leadership fof the tourism industry including from multiple nations across the Eastern Caribbean Region were present at the event.
Dr Geoffrey Hanley, Deputy Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis was present at the opening ceremony on behalf of the host nation. He was joined by the Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation & Investment, Antigua and Barbuda, Charles Fernandez.
The Minister of Tourism from British Virgin Islands, Luce Hodge-Smith, was also present at the event along with the Deputy Secretary, Tourism, Malvern Braithwaite. The other leaders who attended the event included, Sheila Rampath, Chair of the Tourism Commission of the Guadeloupe Regional Council, Guadeloupe, Director of Tourism, Guadeloupe. Emily Siousarram, Head of Unit, International Cooperation, Joleyne Robin-Williams, Tourism Planner, Anguilla and several others.
The new chairperson of the OECS Council of Ministers: Tourism, addressed the attendants of the opening ceremony. She noted that across the OECS, tourism holds a significant position. She said that it is our most significant exports.
The sector has significant impact on employment, foreign exchange earnings and infrastructure development.
The Minister said that the tourism sector is no longer just a sector but has turned into the pulse of the eastern Caribbean.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
