BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NATIONALS of St. Kitts-Nevis will be included in moulding the final Treaty for the Economic Union of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) following a launching ceremony tonight (Sep. 28).
The launch will be held under the patronage of the Governor-General, His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, who would be joined by the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, and OECS Director General Her Excellency Dr. Len Ishmael.
The launching ceremony will begin at 6:00 PM at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s (ECCB) Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium.
Members of the Federal and Nevis Island Administration Cabinets, the Federal and Nevis Island Assemblies, as well as representatives of political parties and non-governmental organisations are expected to attend the event.
Remarks will be made by Dr. Ishmael; the Ambassador to CARICOM, OECS and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), His Excellency Wendell Lawrence; and the Chair of the OECS Task Force on Economic Union and Governor of the ECCB, Sir K. Dwight Venner.
The Federation had made an earlier commitment to follow the lead of its OECS counterparts in launching its public education campaign on the Economic Union, promising to do so on June 23 of this year.
However, St. Vincent and the Grenadine’s Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves previously explained that the crisis had slowed some of the work toward formal arrangements.
Despite the three-month delay, the government’s preparation of Tuesday’s event has refocused the Federation’s attention to finally launch the awareness campaign on the integration initiative.
While the latest set date for the inauguration of the OECS Economic Union remains at June 2010, Trinidad and Tobago is expected to join the Union in 2013. The date signifies the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre, the document that brought the OECS to life.
The issue of an economic union came about in response to a number of changes and challenges in the external economic environment. When the World Trade Organization stipulated rules for international trade that emphasized open competition for goods and services, OECS officials were of the view that such rules may pose a significant threat to the interests of small and vulnerable states, such as those in the sub-region.
The organization therefore called for an economic union, as OECS member states would be able to benefit immensely from an increase in total input and productivity.
The ultimate goal of this arrangement is to increase competitiveness and total output among the countries so as to improve the welfare of the people.
