BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – LEADERS present in St. Kitts to sign the draft treaty establishing the OECS Economic Union have all extolled the virtues of the document, claiming it would bring untold benefits to the lives of the sub-region’s people.
Caribbean Heads of State and dignitaries turned up in their numbers for yesterday’s (Dec. 29) initialling of the draft Treaty of Basseterre, which took place at the Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium.
Representatives from each founding OECS member state were present, as were OECS Authority Head Dr. Len Ishmael, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Edwin Carrington, OAS Deputy Secretary-General Ambassador Albert Ramdin, and Chairman of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Sir Dwight Venner.
“It is a very historic moment for those of us in the OECS,” said Grenadian Prime Minister Tillman Thomas. “Whatever is going to deepen and enhance the economic union and deepen the integration movement, is something that is beneficial to the people of the region.”
In echoing Thomas’ sentiments, Vincentian leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves outlined some of the areas in which the new union would enhance the fortunes of the regional populace.
“The treaty will positively affect our economies, the monetary system, migration, the issue of joint services and governance within the OECS. Issues of citizenship will be more centralised, and the question of maritime boundaries, matters related to climate change and the coordination of health policy will all be resolved, which will help our people to make a difference in their lives,” he explained.
The agriculture, education, telecommunications, tourism and transportation sectors are also slated for joint action under the treaty, which will come into effect on June 18, 2010.
St. Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas voiced his optimism about the establishment of the union, which will transform the sub-region into a single economic space with the removal of all trade barriers and the free movement of capital, labour, and goods and services.
“It heralds the dawn of a new day in the further economic integration and social economic development of the sub-region and the entire Caribbean region. It brings us hope for a better and brighter future, not for some persons in the Eastern Caribbean, but for all persons in the Eastern Caribbean.”
Although the Federation is the smallest independent OECS nation, Douglas noted its capital, Basseterre, was chosen as the site of the historic signing due to its significance in the regional integration movement. He boasted that many of the sub-region’s central institutions were located there, and that the people of St. Kitts-Nevis were strong proponents of further Caribbean integration.
“Here is where we find one of the most important institutions that has kept the OECS going, and that is our Central Bank. Not only the Central Bank, but a number of other related institutions. The Home Mortgage Bank, the Eastern Caribbean Stock Exchange, the Enterprise Fund - the economic entities and institutions are here in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“You would remember that Sir Caleb Azariah Paul Southwell, in St. Lucia, put the final touches to the Treaty that eventually established the OECS. You would also recall that it was here in St. Kitts that the Treaty was eventually signed.”
Douglas continued, “We commonly refer to it as the Treaty of Basseterre even though there is no document that refers to it as such. We felt that since it was known in history to be the Treaty of Basseterre, why not have a real Treaty of Basseterre? It is really history in the making.”
Member countries are expected to ratify the treaty by June of next year.
