OECS Heads to tackle Economic Union, cost of living and bilateral issues
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St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and Director General of the OECS Her Excellency Dr. Len Ishmael (Photo by Erasmus Williams)
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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, (CUOPM) – The establishment of an OECS Economic Union, OECS-Canadian interests and the cost of living in the sub region are among matters for discussion when the OECS Authority meets in St. Lucia this week.
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas is leading a five-member delegation to the May 23rd and 24th meeting in Castries, the St. Lucia capital. Other members are Premier of Nevis, Hon. Joseph Parry; Nevis Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Ashley Farrell; Executive Director in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Ms. Eudora Nisbett and Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Verna Morris.
Heads of Government are expected to finalise plans to continue the engagement of the public on the proposed OECS Economic Union that seeks to create a single economic space among the islands which will provide an expanded base for business development and from which the region can more effectively engage the rest of the world. A year-long consultation exercise was launched in Dominica, last April and similar national launches are expected to take place in the other OECS Member States in the coming months.
Heads of Government will also discuss the OECS-Canadian Strategic interests within the context of upcoming CARICOM-Canada negotiations for a new Trade and Investment Agreement and review the Member States deployment of Diplomatic and other Missions in relation to costs and effectiveness. ~~Adz:Right~~
The Meeting will also look at the cost of living issues facing the sub-region.
The Meeting, under new OECS Chairman, Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Keith Mitchell of Grenada begins on Friday 23rd May at the Bay Gardens Resort in Rodney Bay.
The incoming Chairman will be joined in addressing the Opening Ceremony by outgoing Chairman, Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, host Prime Minister Hon. Stephenson King of St. Lucia and OECS Director General Her Excellency Dr. Len Ishmael.
