BASSETEERE, ST. KITTS, MAY 23RD 2007 (CUOPM) - The 2007 Budget and Work Programme of the OECS Secretariat, functional cooperation and meetings with the Secretary of State of Puerto Rico and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba are among matters which will come before Heads of Government of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) during the 45th Meeting of the Authority in Grenada.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and other Heads of Government begin their deliberations on Thursday in Grenada to discuss financial matters pertaining to the OECS Secretariat including the Budget for the Financial Year July 2007 to June 2008; a Pension Plan, Reclassification of Posts and Salary Review.

The Secretariat's Work Programme, the Report of the First OECS International Development Conference and the Status Reports on the Eastern Caribbean (ECEMP), the Hub and Spokes Project and the Geneva Mission.

The Reunification of the Magisterial and Legal Services, the free transferability of Offices of Gazetted Rank within the region, the establishment a Regional Training College, the Status of Maritime Boundary Delimitation Initiatives, the Petroleum Fund, the status of the PetroCaribe Initiative and the Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Puerto Rico.

OECS Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers will also discuss relevant issues with the Secretary of State of Puerto Rico and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba. OECS leaders will also discuss relations with Cuba and Brazil.

The Draft Treaty and the public education programme as well as OECS Transport Initiatives; Cricket World Cup Evaluation and Proposal; the OECS experience with the single space concept; the programme for Improved Statistical Systems, the OECS Labour Market Study and the OECS E-Government Project will also be discussed by the OECS Heads of Government.