OECS Heads convened Special Retreat in St. Kitts
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 25TH 2007 (CUOPM) - OECS Heads of Government have restated their commitment to the establishment of an economic union among the countries of the sub-region.
The Heads, who met recently at the Headquarters of the Basseterre-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) convened a special retreat on the economic union initiative.
That meeting was also attended by members of the Economic Union Task Force - comprising high level officials appointed by each Head of Government, and representatives of the OECS Secretariat.
The Heads agreed to the immediate launch of a campaign of public education and consultation, which they decided should include opposition political parties, national cabinets, parliaments and all sections of the public.
The public dialogue will revolve around a draft OECS Economic Union Treaty which, along with a Layman’s Guide, will be printed and made available in all Member States.
~~Adz:Right~~ Also being made available will be a publication and television documentary outlining “Achievements to Date” of the OECS integration movement, and a booklet of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
In addition to public education, plans were also made for technical work required for implementing the Economic Union, for example in relation to labour and manpower flows to determine how OECS skills can be absorbed and jobs generated.
The special Economic Union retreat was chaired by Dominica’s Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, the current Chairman of the OECS Authority.
The OECS comprises Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St.
Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.
