Premier O’Neal satisfied with OECS authority discussions

Roadtown, Tortola - Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal has expressed his satisfaction with the discussions at the just concluded 49th Meeting of the OECS Authority.

At the final press conference last Friday, the Premier said “discussions were satisfactory and I was very pleased with some of the subjects that were discussed.

Honourable O’Neal made specific mention of the discussions on the construction industry. The Premier and other delegates received a paper on the construction sector and they endorsed a number of measures including joint procurement. 

“For example, looking into the construction industry and being able to get products like sand, gravel, cement, steel and lumber at the best possible prices and also urging community colleges to organise courses for people who are in construction like project managers,” the Premier stated.

On a recent Public Eye programme and in his remarks at the opening ceremony of the meeting, the Premier said it was his single hope that the OECS leaders would come out of the meeting more united.

Questioned about this Friday afternoon, the Premier said “there were a lot of united actions and decisions and there was a high spirit of unity and willingness to help each other, so I was very satisfied.”

According to the Premier, “the OECS is helping member states prepare for the future and of course we dealt with such things as agriculture and alternative sources of energy which is very, very important and critical to us.”

The meeting also addressed the impact of the global financial crisis on the tourism sector, endorsing a recommendation of OECS Tourism Ministers to apply a levy on airline tickets purchased to travel within the OECS. The OECS leaders also agreed to allow the Secretariat to move forward with the establishment of an OECS Tourism Authority as well as to commission a report on the economic impact on the tourism industry in recent months.

The subject of the OECS Economic Union was another agenda item and it was one of the first questions asked by the media at Friday’s Press Conference. On that subject, Premier O’Neal said “a small territory cannot allow everybody in as they wish.”
He added that the BVI allows people into the Territory but it is controlled. “People for instance coming in to work for Government, there is no restriction on that because they are needed; doctors, teachers, nurses but the whole agreement will be looked after at intervals to make sure that there is a balance in the population.”

Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Denzil Douglas also shared his view on the subject saying “the economic union initiative which is being pursued continues to be the most important vehicle through which we believe we can have greater integration among the sub-region, the OECS peoples.” He also noted that “this continues to occupy a place very high on the agenda of matters before the OECS Authority.”

Describing the 49th Meeting of the OECS Authority as “a watershed meeting”, Dr. Douglas said it took place “at a time when we have had to take a very sobering and reflective assessment of where we are as a people of the sub-region, and what role the OECS as an organisation; an institution; what role it will play now in going through this crisis and in the future.”

Prime Minister, Stephenson King, of St. Lucia described the meeting as an historic occasion “coming at a time when the global environment is not what it used to be many years ago but coming at a time when we as leaders and nations can reflect on the very significant role that the OECS Secretariat has played in promoting the ideals, the vision and the aspirations of OECS people.”

Honourable King said it is also an opportune time for OECS leaders to recommit “to the ideals of the OECS and what we stand for as a united force working in the interest of the people of the region and we can look back with great pride at the successes in education, agriculture and a number of other areas.”

The details of the decisions taken at the 49th Meeting of the OECS Authority will be made available in the communiqué, which will be released by the OECS Secretariat this week. The OECS Authority is the highest decision making body of the organisation and meets twice annually in different member states.