HIV/AIDS Steering Committee
convenes orientation meeting
PHILIPSBURG--Members of the Island Government HIV/AIDS Steering Committee held their first meeting in the Conference Room at the Government Administration Building on Wednesday to familiarise themselves with the objectives and the role of the HIV/AIDS Steering Committee in the fight against HIV/AIDS here.
The responsibilities of the HIV/AIDS Steering Committee in relation to the government include the HIV/AIDS Programme Management Team, the budget and self-governance. As it relates to self governance the committee will meet quarterly, but it was decided that due to the urgency of a number of critical matters, including their continued familiarisation with the HIV/AIDS Programme, the committee would have its next meeting within the next month.
With regard to budgetary responsibilities, the committee will make sure that the annual work plans developed by the Programme Management Team (PMT) fall within the constraints of the budget allocated by the Executive Council for HIV/AIDS-related activities. In relation to the PMT the committee will order mid-term and end-of-project evaluations of the National Strategic Plan and will sanction recommendations made by the PMT.
In relation to government the committee will be responsible for articulating the commitment from the highest level of government on HIV/AIDS prevention and control. The HIV/AIDS Steering Committee also will provide advice on and monitor new and existing policies and plans consistent with the developmental objectives of St. Maarten.
The Island Government’s HIV/AIDS Steering Committee is the reorganised HIV/AIDS Platform and will serve primarily as the advocacy and advisory body for matters related to the execution of the HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan.
According to HIV/AIDS Programme Manager Suzette Moses-Burton, “This re-organisation of the committee, formerly known as the Platform, became necessary with the re-organisation and re-structuring that was done to facilitate more effective management of the new HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan 2007-2011.”
The HIV/AIDS Steering Committee will be in existence for the duration of the National Strategic Plan, which runs from 2007-2011. Its members are Leader of Government Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams as Chair, Commissioner of Health Maria Buncamper-Molanus as Vice-Chair, Public Health Sector Director Jorien Wuite as government representative, Dr. Gerard van Osch of St. Maarten AIDS Foundation, Hubert Pantophlet representing the private sector, Mathias Voges of the Catholic School Board and Rolando Tobias, both representing non-governmental organisations and Pastor Wycliffe Smith representing faith-based organisations.
