OECS-POLITICS-OECS leaders agree to press on with Economic Union

CASTRIES, St. Lucia CMC - Heads of Government of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have agreed to move forward with plans to establish an Economic Union of the sub-regional grouping and are currently examining options available for the participation of non-independent member states.

At their 47th Summit, which ended here Saturday, the OECS Authority welcomed a report from Dr. Francis Alexis, a consultant engaged to examine options available to Montserrat, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands on their future deliberations in the proposed initiative.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonzalves told reporters that in the case of these states there are certain issues which would arise related to the countries having the legal capacity to sign on to a treaty for Economic Union.

He said the report also looked at considerations which they themselves have as to whether they ought to be part of the Economic Union or whether they should limit themselves to embracing certain elements of the Union.

"We noted the consultant’s recommendations that the most effective solution to the constitutional challenges facing the non-independent territories would be constitutional advancement, which would enable them to sign and ratify OECS treaties on their own without having to depend on that authority being delegated by the British Government," Gonzalves noted.

The Heads agreed to accept an invitation extended by the Chief Minister of Anguilla for a delegation of Heads of the independent member states to accompany the non-independent member states for a joint engagement with the British Government in October.

They also discussed a report from the Head of the Economic Union Task Force Dr. Dwight Venner, which recommends the establishment in member states of Cabinet and Parliamentary sub-committees to assist the Economic Union process.

"The Sub-committee of Heads will include the incoming and outgoing Chairmen of the Authority and it also identifies the need for the roles of the entities driving the Economic Union process to be made clear," the conference communiqué noted.

The OECS leaders also received a report on the first public consultation on the draft OECS Economic Union Treaty held in Dominica last month and urged member states to arrange for similar national launches in the weeks ahead.

In this regard, the meeting welcomed plans by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to hold the launch of their public dialogue on June 16th, 2008.

"To facilitate this process we have agreed that regional integration units would be established within the office of the Prime Minister within all of the nine member states to facilitate the work of the decisions of the OECS Authority," Gonzalves said.

The Heads also welcomed the announcement by the St. Lucia Government of the appointment of an Ambassador for the OECS and CARICOM Affairs, who will work out of the Prime Minister’s Office and the plans to create a Unit along the lines of those already established in Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

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