OECS | Recent Updates

OECS to Provide Over Three Hundred Thousand EC Dollars for Commnunity Project in Portsmouth, Dominica

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:57:13 -0400

OECS to Determine Ways to Finance Protected Areas in the Region over the long-term

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 11:56:26 -0400

OECS Heads of Government wrapped up their 49th Meeting in Tortola BVI, May 22nd, calling it a watershed in the historical evolution of the organization.

OECS Heads End Watershed Meeting

Wed, 27 May 2009 11:56:26 -0400

OECS Secretariat begins in-house Training Seminar in DevInfo

kmorgan@oecs.org — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:55:31 -0400

OECS Heads To Meet in the BVI

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:14:21 -0400

Implications of the global and regional financial crisis for OECS economies will be among matters facing OECS Heads of Government when they meet in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, for the 49th Meeting of the OECS Authority, May 20th to 22nd.

The meeting will consider the effects of the financial crisis on key sectors, including tourism and construction, and will also examine social safety net provisions for the needy and dispossessed. Heads will also discuss issues for the OECS from international developments regarding tax havens...

8th OECS Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:13:39 -0400

Tourism Ministers of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) met in regular session at their 8th OECS Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting, held at the NIS Conference Room in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on April 21st, 2009. The main purposes of the meeting were to track progress on and advance implementation of tourism-related mandates received from a Special Joint Meeting of the OECS Authority and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Monetary Council, which was held in mid-January 2009 in response to the impact of the global financial and economic crisis on the OECS economy...

St. Kitts Coalition of Services Industries Organises a One-Day Workshop On Facilitating Trade in Services

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:13:39 -0400

The Interim Board of the St. Kitts and Nevis Coalition of Services Industries in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs will convene a one-day workshop on April 30, 2009 at the Frigate Beach Resort in St. Kitts.

The objective of the workshop is to offer specialized training to local professional service exporters and service firms with export potential to modern techniques and strategies for successful exporting and provide them with skills to enter new markets whilst increasing the awareness of potential exporters to market opportunities.

The workshop will be delivered under the theme “Target New Markets: A Strategic Approach to Exporting Services”. The St. Kitts Coalition of Services Industries was launched in November, 2008, it is an umbrella body that brings together services sector organizations to lobby and address trade and development issues affecting service providers.

Dominica Coalition of Services Industries Organises One-Day Workshop On Facilitating Trade in Services in Dominica

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:13:39 -0400

The Board of Directors of the Dominica Coalition of Services Industries in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Consumer and Diaspora Affairs will host a one-day workshop on April 28, 2009 at the Garraway Hotel in Dominica.

The objective of the one-day workshop is to offer specialized training to local professional service exporters and service firms with export potential to modern techniques and strategies for successful exporting and provide them with skills to enter new markets whilst increasing the awareness of potential exporters to market opportunities. The workshop will be delivered under the theme “Target New Markets: A Strategic Approach to Exporting Services”.

The Dominica Coalition of Services Industries was officially launched on January 14, 2009, as an umbrella body that brings together services sector organizations to lobby and address services trade and development issues.

OECS Countries moving towards reducing government expenditure for the treatment of persons on dialysis

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:29:54 -0400

OECS Secretariat, Castries, Saint. Lucia April 15th, 2009: OECS Member Countries are moving closer towards reducing government expenditure for the treatment of persons on dialysis. For the first time, a meeting on advancing this process will take place on Friday April 17th 2009 in Saint Lucia involving nephrologists or doctors caring for patients on dialysis. The nephrologists as well as Managers of Central Medical Stores of all nine OECS Member States will meet in Castries for a morning session hosted by the OECS Secretariat’s Pharmaceutical Procurement Service. (OECS PPS) ..

OECS Secretariat assists Dominica’s Efforts to Establish Trade Facilitation Task Force

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:29:54 -0400

Senior officials, from key agencies involved in trade in Dominica, met to discuss the establishment of a national coordinating body on trade facilitation late last month. The presentations and discussion focussed on Trade Facilitation in the context of customs reform, national development and regional and multilateral negotiations. The meeting raised several issues and concerns which would need to be addressed by a task force, including the implications for trade-related fees and taxes, interagency collaboration, engagement of the private sector and trade performance. The Ministry with responsibility for international trade will be leading efforts to establish the task force. ...

OECS Secretariat helps officials to craft positions on Fisheries Subsidies

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 8 Apr 2009 09:07:16 -0400

In the second in a series of consultations on the WTO’s Doha Development Agenda (DDA), the OECS Secretariat will bring Trade and Fisheries Officials from OECS-WTO members to St. John’s, Antigua on 8-9th April, to discuss rules for the treatment of fisheries subsidies. The meeting will be funded by the Hub & Spokes Project, a joint project of the European Union (EU) and the Commonwealth Secretariat. Technical support will be provided by the OECS and WTO Secretariats...

OECS NewsLink MP3

kmorgan@oecs.org — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:03:43 -0400

Listen to OECS NewsLink. A roundup of major happenings across the OECS today. Updated Daily.

The OECS Secretariat helps officials chart the way foward for the region in the WTO negotiations

kmorgan@oecs.org — Tue, 7 Apr 2009 09:07:16 -0400

Trade, agriculture and private sector officials of OECS-WTO members met in Roseau, Dominica on March 31st and April 1st 2009 to review and respond to the latest developments in the negotiations on agriculture, industrial goods and services in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha Development Round (DDA). The activity was organised by the OECS Secretariat with funding from the EU-funded Commonwealth Secretariat Hub and Spokes Project. The WTO Secretariat, International Trade Centre and the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery provided technical support...

Attorney’s General to seek professional advice on Treaties as the OECS moves towards an Economic Union

kmorgan@oecs.org — Thu, 2 Apr 2009 09:07:16 -0400

OECS Attorneys General are to seek the advice of a treaties specialist as they further consider legal support mechanisms for the proposed OECS Economic Union. This was among major conclusions at the recently held 15th meeting of the OECS Legal Affairs Committee or OECSLAC in Saint Lucia. On the movement towards deepening the integration process, the meeting examined differences between the CARICOM Revised Treaty and the proposed OECS Economic Union and endorsed the need for a treaties expert to guide the committee in addressing the draft OECS Economic Union agreement...

OECS-WTO Members reflect on the WTO DDA and its Implications for their economies

kmorgan@oecs.org — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:21:39 -0400

Officials from trade, agriculture and the private sector will meet in Roseau, Dominica to deliberate on the implications of the WTO negotiations for the OECS and strategise for their continued participation. The meeting takes place March 31 – April 1 and will cover trade in agricultural and industrial products and services. Experts from the OECS Mission in Geneva and Trade Policy Unit, as well as the WTO will facilitate the activity. Financing for participation of delegates is provided by the EU funded Hub and Spokes Project...

Statement on the Situation in the Turks And Caicos Islands by The Caribbean Community

kmorgan@oecs.org — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:20:18 -0400

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is following with growing concern recent political and constitutional developments in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), a British Overseas Territory and Associate Member of the Community...

Saint Lucia’s National Task Force Visits Port Castries

kmorgan@oecs.org — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:20:18 -0400

Members of the Trade Facilitation Task Force of Saint Lucia met for their first team-building activity on March 19, 2009. The activity received support from the OECS Secretariat and UNCTAD and was organised by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Consumer Affairs, the coordinating agency for the trade facilitation task force...

Stakeholders in the OECS Combine Approaches to Deal with the Growing Cost of Energy

kmorgan@oecs.org — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:20:17 -0400

Experts in the OECS Energy Sector have been advised to keep on the front burner a possible return of the spiraling cost of fuel. The signal comes from an official of the Washington based World Bank who addressed a meeting of stakeholders in the OECS energy sector on Monday in Saint Lucia...

St. Lucia Coalition of Services Industries (SLCSI) Prepares companies to Target New Markets

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:43:32 -0400

The St. Lucia Coalition of Services Industries convened three (3) one day workshops during March 16 – 18, 2009 in St. Lucia at which the key strategic elements for exporting services were a major highlight. The first one-day workshop offered specialized training to its Board Members on financing options to ensure sustainability of the Coalition, developing a Strategy to address the needs of its membership and best practices to overcome institutional challenges. Representatives from the National Coalitions from the Commonwealth of Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines also participated in the workshop...

OECS Attorney’s General to meet in Saint Lucia from March 24-25

kmorgan@oecs.org — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:43:31 -0400

The OECS Family Law and Domestic Violence Reform Project as well as, the establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Competition Commission are among priority issues set for discussion at the 15th meeting of the OECS Legal Affairs Committee from March 24-25th in Saint Lucia...

Opportune Time for Deeper Integration says OECS Chairman

kmorgan@oecs.org — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:42:06 -0400

OECS Chairman, Prime Minister Mr. Tillman Thomas of Grenada feels the current global economic downturn makes now an even more opportune time for small countries like those in the OECS to strengthen ties and work closer together. Prime Minister Thomas delivered the feature address at the March 3rd launch of public consultations in Grenada on the OECS Economic Union...

St. Lucia Coalition of Services Industries (SLCSI) Organizes Three One-Day Workshops On Facilitating Trade in Services in St. Lucia

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:42:05 -0400

The St. Lucia Coalition of Services Industries (SLCSI) will host three (3) one-day workshops from March 16 – 18, 2009 at the Bay Gardens Hotel in St. Lucia. The objective of the three, one-day workshops is to offer specialized training to the Board of Directors and Technical Committee of National Coalitions, local professional service exporters and service firms with export potential.

OECS Secretariat holds talks with Canadians on ways of improving the lives of Eastern Caribbean Citizens

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:11:41 -0400

OECS Secretariat, Castries, Saint. Lucia March 11, 2009: On Monday the OECS Secretariat hosted officials from the Nova Scotia branch of a Canadian education organisation called EDUNOVA, on various issues including ways of improving the lives of Eastern Caribbean citizens.

OECS Countries Aim to Reduce Negative Impacts of Physical Development on the Environment

tfontenard@oecs.org — Mon, 2 Mar 2009 10:07:25 -0400

(OECS Secretariat, Castries, St Lucia) Member States of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will meet in Dominica next week to discuss ways in which they can increase their efficiency in managing physical development without harming their countries’ natural resources and overall environment...

OECS Secretariat and ILO Move Forward on Labour Market Collaboration

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:46:27 -0400

The OECS Secretariat and the regional office of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have announced their intention to continue to pursue the joint implement of a Memorandum of Understanding they signed in 2008 which facilitates collaboration in the fields of Decent Work, Labour, Employment Policies and Development Issues...

OECS Secretariat Signs Agreement with University of Puerto Rico

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 6 Feb 2009 15:49:57 -0400

The OECS Secretariat, on Thursday February 5th signed a collaboration agreement with the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) which provides for nationals of the OECS Member States who enroll at the UPR to be accorded the same status as Puerto Rican students, with the attendant advantages and benefits. Under the agreement the University of Puerto Rico will also offer scholarships to OECS nationals admitted to the University...

OECS Staff Train in DevInfo Statistics Software

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:22:30 -0400

The OECS Secretariat is strengthening its capacity to utilize statistics in its various programmes and assist Member States make greater use of statistics in decision making and policy formulation.

Staff at the Secretariat, spent January 26th to 30th, receiving training in the software DevInfo which provides for the collation, presentation and dissemination of statistical data. The training is being conducted in collaboration with UNICEF and the CARICOM Secretariat....

OECS Secretariat Receives Spain’s Permanent Representative

kmorgan@oecs.org — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:51:30 -0400

Castries, St. Lucia, January 23rd 2009: - The OECS Secretariat, on Wednesday January 21st received His Excellency Mr. Jesus Silva as the Permanent Representative of Spain to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

In the first ever ceremony of its kind held at the OECS Secretariat, Ambassador Silva presented his Letters of Credence to OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael. The ceremony was attended by a delegation from Spain, representatives of the diplomatic corps in St. Lucia and senior staff of the OECS Secretariat.

Regional Governments urged: “Not to lull into thinking that the energy crisis is over!”

kmorgan@oecs.org — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:39:51 -0400

OECS Secretariat, Castries, Saint. Lucia January 6th, 2009: Saint Lucia’s Minister of Environment Hon. Richard Frederick, has cautioned that: “Petroleum prices are certain to rise again in the future and to impact negatively on our economies”.

Speaking at a recent meeting of OECS Ministers of Environment in Antigua and Barbuda, Minister Frederick said the oil crisis, forced regional governments to view energy as: “a critical factor of production and a sine qua non for human existence, and not just another commodity to be purchased.” Mr. Frederick also believes the recent cutback, as a result of the global economic depression, has made governments become complacent and less bothered about the volatility of the oil phenomenon. Citing exploratory efforts in geothermal energy in St Kitts-Nevis, Dominica as well as St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Minister added: “I believe that we have all recognized that a continued total dependence on imported energy is unsustainable, especially when we have access to environmentally friendly renewable energy options.” In this regard, Minister Frederick informed is colleague ministers of Saint Lucia’s plan to establish a wind farm.

OECS Tourism Ministers Discuss Impact of Global Financial Crisis

kmorgan@oecs.org — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:23:39 -0400

Ministers of Tourism from the OECS met on Monday, in a Video Conference convened by the OECS Secretariat, to discuss the impacts of the current global financial crisis on the respective national tourism industries and to help formulate a strategy that would allow the regional industry to respond to the crisis.

There from the Start – Early Employee Retires

kmorgan@oecs.org — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:17:15 -0400

The OECS Secretariat’s longest serving employee retired from the Organisation on Friday December 12th.

Ms. Monica Destang, whose last position with the Secretariat was Travel Officer,

completed twenty-seven (27) years with the regional integration movement.

Ms Destang actually began her journey with the predecessor organization to the OECS – the West Indies Associated States (WISA) Council of Ministers. WISA was one of two institutions – the other being the Eastern Caribbean Common Market (ECCM), set up to assist the development of the smaller Eastern Caribbean islands, after the collapse of the West Indies Federation.

As the Eastern Caribbean Islands moved towards political independence, they recognized the need for a more formal arrangement and so they established the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) which came into being with the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre on June 18th 1981. The old WISA Secretariat, which was based in St. Lucia, became the OECS Secretariat and Ms Destang and her colleagues at the WISA Secretariat became the first batch of employers of the OECS Secretariat under its first Director General Dr. Vaughn Lewis.

It was just a handful of staff then, she noted. Since then the staff complement has grown significantly, and so has the number of areas in which the Secretariat provides service to the nine OECS Member States.

Ms Destang served in a number of areas during her long tenure, including Confidential Secretary to Dr. Lewis, Admin Officer for OECS Heads of Government meetings and Administrative Assistant at the OECS Solid Waste Project.

Management and staff paid tribute to Ms Destang for her long service at a ceremony at the Secretariat Headquarters on December 12th .

Training Opportunities Open at Diplomatic School in Spain

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:25:07 -0400

The Diplomatic School in Spain has advised the OECS Secretariat that admission is now open for one hundred places at the School for academic year 2009-2010 to pursue the Masters in Diplomacy and International Relations which specifically targets foreign service officers.

OECS Nationals are being encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.

The deadline for the receipt of applications for the Masters programme is January 31st 2009. Information on the offer and the application form may be found here. All candidates must set the admission test before April 11, 2009.

The School has indicated that candidates from non-Spanish speaking countries must have a good command of the Spanish language which may be accredited through the DELE (Diploma in Spanish as a Foreign Language) Intermediate Level.

Application Forms and supporting documents must be received in the Embassy of Spain by January 26th, 2009, for its onward transmission to the relevant Department in Spain.

Candidates who wish, may simultaneously apply for a Spanish scholarship to cover the cost of the programme, and information on that process is available at www.becasmae.es The deadline for the receipt of applications for the Spanish scholarship differs from that for the application for the Masters programme.

OECS Not Actively Considering Venezuela's Membership

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 5 Dec 2008 14:58:49 -0400

Some media reports have incorrectly given the impression that the inclusion of Venezuela as a member of the OECS grouping is under active consideration at this time.

A question about Venezuela joining the nine-member OECS grouping was raised at the closing press conference of the just ended 48th Meeting of the OECS Authority on 22nd November 2008, in Montserrat.

Dr. Ishmael told the reporters that the Organization was very much preoccupied with its own timetable to implement plans for an Economic Union among its Member States at this moment in time. She pointed out however, that there currently exists strong bilateral relations between Venezuela and individual Member States which the Member States are keen to maintain and continue to develop. In addition, she noted that there were already some areas in which Venezuela engaged the OECS at the regional level and that any initiatives aimed at strengthening the bonds of functional collaboration at the regional level, would be discussed by Member States.

Venezuela is among a growing number of countries from different parts of the world which have sought, in recent months, to formalize ties with the OECS through different arrangements, including the presentation of credentials at the regional level.

OECS Geneva Mission Assisting With Trade Facilitation Needs Assessment

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:20:31 -0400

The Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer affairs of St Kitts and Nevis will on Monday officially open a weeklong activity aimed at assessing the Trade Facilitation needs and priorities for Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as it relates to the ongoing negotiations on Trade Facilitation at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Saint Lucia Launches OECS Economic Union public Awareness Consultation

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:54:32 -0400

Saint Lucia continued the process of regional stakeholder dialogue on the OECS Economic Union with its island launch of public consultations on Monday November 17th, in Castries. Delivering the keynote address Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Stephenson King encouraged locals to step forward boldly and facilitate a fair exchange of views on the proposed OECS Economic Union.

St. Lucia to Launch Public Consultations on OECS Economic Union

kmorgan@oecs.org — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:19:59 -0400

St. Lucia will launch its public consultations on the OECS Economic Union on Monday 17th November 2008.

A launching ceremony will be held at Derek Walcott Square in Castries at which the keynote address will be delivered by the country’s Prime Minister Mr. Stephenson King. Other presentations will come from OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael, Chairman of the Task Force on OECS Economic Union Sir Dwight Venner, and St. Lucia’s Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary to CARICOM and the OECS Dr. June Soomer.

OECS Heads to Meet in Montserrat

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:19:34 -0400

OECS Heads of Government gather on Montserrat, November 19th to 21st for the 48th Meeting of the OECS Authority.

OECS Secretariat Expresses Sympathy on Passing of Byron Lee

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 7 Nov 2008 10:59:49 -0400

OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael has written to Jamaica’s Prime Minister Hon. Bruce Golding expressing deepest sympathy on behalf of the OECS Secretariat on the passing of the legendary Jamaican and Caribbean musician Byron Lee.

OECS Trade and Finance Officials Examine Border Tax Measures

kmorgan@oecs.org — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:02:15 -0400

Trade and Finance officials from the independent Member States of the OECS meet in St. Lucia on Thursday 13th November to examine the findings of study commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat which reviewed the application of the customs service charge and other levies on imports into OECS Member States.

Sing For Integration

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:42:39 -0400

Are you Young and Musically Talented? Do you want a chance to express your views on Integration in a song? Well this may be the break you’ve been waiting for! Get your crew together and produce a demo on CD and send it off to the OECS Secretariat. The music should be Caribbean and the lyrics should reflect the positive hopes and dreams of OECS people coming together. If your entry is selected, the OECS Secretariat will have you professionally recorded and your song will become part of a regional collection for an upcoming promotional campaign. So take your sining from the shower to the studio and send your product to: OECS Promotional Song c/o OECS Secretariat P.O. Box 179 Castries St. Lucia to reach no later than December 15th 2008.

Way Still Open for Donations to Hurricane Ravaged Haiti

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:50:16 -0400

Haiti was ravaged by four hurricanes — Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike — in less than four weeks during August and September. Nearly 800 people were killed and much of the country's agriculture was destroyed, leaving many people hungry. Total damage has been estimated at more than one billion US dollars. The CARICOM Secretariat, in response to requests from across the region for banking details to facilitate the contribution of financial assistance towards the relief efforts for Haiti, has indicated that contributions can be made to:

OECS Trade Ministers prepare for Canada Negotiations

kmorgan@oecs.org — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:03:42 -0400

OECS Trade Ministers want to see the areas of Services, Development and Special and Differential Treatment for their small island states, become integral in the OECS Strategy and Approach to negotiating Bilateral Trade Agreements, including the upcoming CARICOM-Canada negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement.

OECS and ILO Continue Collaboration in Development of a Labour Market Information System for the OECS

kmorgan@oecs.org — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:14:02 -0400

As the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) region forges ahead with plans to establish an OECS Economic Union by 2009, the OECS Secretariat is embarking on several initiatives to develop enhanced support systems for the proposed union...

OECS Secretariat and Spanish Diplomatic School sign MOU

kmorgan@oecs.org — Thu, 9 Oct 2008 13:21:21 -0400

MOECS Member States are currently engaged in negotiations at the World Trade Organisation in the context of the Doha Development Agenda. One component of these negotiations relate to the development of rules on Trade Facilitation.

The OECS Prepares for Trade Facilitation Assessments

kmorgan@oecs.org — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:23:35 -0400

OECS Member States are currently engaged in negotiations at the World Trade Organisation in the context of the Doha Development Agenda. One component of these negotiations relate to the development of rules on Trade Facilitation.

OECS Expert Group Meeting To Prepare For CARICOM-Canada Negotiations

kmorgan@oecs.org — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:51:19 -0400

Castries, St. Lucia, 17th September 2008:- OECS Member Countries begin discussions on September 23rd and 24th on the issues they want included in the upcoming CARICOM-Canada negotiations for a Trade and Development Agreement.

OECS Agree to Trinidad and Tobago

kmorgan@oecs.org — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:16:35 -0400

OECS Heads of Government have thrown their full support behind a move to have Trinidad and Tobago become a part of an OECS Economic Union within the next two years.

Educational Opportunities in the French West Indies

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:49:13 -0400

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat and the International Labour Organization have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate on labour market issues to support national development efforts and the integration process within the OECS Economic Union. The MOU was signed on 20 August 2008.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and the International Labour Organization sign Memorandum of Understanding

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:49:10 -0400

In order to show its dedication to the strengthening of the ties between the French Caribbean and the OECS Member States, the University of the French West Indies and Guiana (Universite des Antilles et de la Guyane – UAG) is offering a language training programme to new applicants from the OECS Member States.

Mexico’s Ambassador to the OECS Member States Visits

kmorgan@oecs.org — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:04:44 -0400

Mexico’s Ambassador to the OECS Member States His Excellency Gerardo Lozano met on Monday September 8th with OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael. Ambassador Lozano, who is based in St. Lucia, recently completed his round of visits to the OECS Member States to which he accredited and presented his credentials to the respective Heads of State. .

St. Lucia’s Ambassador to the OECS Presents Credentials

kmorgan@oecs.org — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:04:43 -0400

Her Excellency Ambassador June Soomer, Plenipotentiary Representative of St. Lucia to the OECS and CARICOM presented her credentials to OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael, at the OECS Secretariat in Castries, St. Lucia on 2nd September 2008 .

OECS Heads to Meet on Latest Integration Initiative in St. Lucia

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:45:20 -0400

OECS Heads of Government will meet in St. Lucia, September 11th 2008, to discuss the proposed economic and eventual political union being promoted by Trinidad and Tobago along with Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. All OECS Heads of Government are expected to attend.

Lead Author is confident as deadline approaches for Second OECS Human Development Report

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:45:21 -0400

OECS Secretariat, Castries St. Lucia September 8th, 2008: OECS Secretariat officials recently convened to review the process towards the second OECS Human Development report which is focusing mainly on youth. Persons responsible for the various chapters in the report known as chapter focal points, updated the session on some of the issues to be addressed by the second OECS Human Development Report including Employment, Education, Health, Labour as well as Demographics and Crime and Violence.

OECS Supreme Court Appoints New Chief Justice.

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 5 Sep 2008 12:16:01 -0400

The Hon. Hugh Anthony Rawlins, on Wednesday, August 13, 2008, received notice from the Office of the Lord High Chancellor, Honourable Jack Straw, confirming his appointment as Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. .

Calls for Improved Delivery of Social Services in OECS Member States.

kmorgan@oecs.org — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:40:25 -0400

Officials at the OECS Secretariat say the delivery of social services must be improved in order to effectively implement new legislation on Family Law and Domestic Violence in the OECS. .

OECS to Develop Awareness Strategy for Protected Areas

tfontenard@oecs.org — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:26:17 -0400

(OECS Secretariat, Castries, St Lucia) The OECS Protected Areas and Associated Livelihoods (OPAAL) project is expected to make progress towards the development of a regional awareness strategy for protected areas next week, when it holds a regional stakeholder consultation at the St Kitts Marriot in Frigate Bay.

OECS celebrates its 27th Anniversary

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:19:07 -0400

Wednesday June 18th 2008 marks the 27th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre which established the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States OECS.

OECS TV - Ottawa Diaspora Meeting

kmorgan@oecs.org — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:50:17 -0400

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdHW1fXitd4

When the OECS High Commission in Ottawa heard a delegation from the OECS Headquarters in St. Lucia was passing through the Canadian Capital city in early June as part of a swing through Canada to promote business opportunities in the OECS, High Commissioner Mr. Brendon Brown and his staff quickly pulled together OECS nationals living and working in Ottawa for an evening of discussion on OECS integration, and the OECS Economic Union in particular.
OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael and Director of Economic Affairs Mr. Randolph Cato made presentations and then answered wide ranging and piercing questions.
This programme brings you highlights of that very interesting engagement at City Hall, Ottawa.

OECS Nationals in Ottawa, Canada speak on role of the Diaspora in an OECS Economic Union

kmorgan@oecs.org — Mon, 9 Jun 2008 12:08:08 -0400

OECS Nationals in Ottawa, Canada speak on role of the Diaspora in an OECS Economic Union

OECS nationals in Ottawa, Canada turned out to a Diaspora Meeting, Saturday May 31st to hear a team from the OECS Secretariat, speak about plans for the proposed OECS Economic Union.

OECS promotes investment and business partnership opportunities in Canada

kmorgan@oecs.org — Mon, 9 Jun 2008 12:08:07 -0400

OECS promotes investment and business partnership opportunities in Canada

OECS Secretariat, Castries St. Lucia June 2nd, 2008:The OECS was promoted as a region opened for Canadian investments and business partnerships during a day-long series of round-table discussions on Friday, May 30th, attended by a wide cross-section of the business community in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

OECS Heads to Meet in St. Lucia

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:34:19 -0400

OECS Heads to Meet in St. Lucia

OECS Heads of Government gather in St. Lucia, May 23rd and 24th for the forty-seventh meeting of the OECS Authority.

OECS Secretariat Launches OECS TV Online

kmorgan@oecs.org — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:39:31 -0400

OECS Secretariat Launches OECS TV Online

The OECS Secretariat has launched OECS TV Online as part of efforts to share images of OECS events throughout the region and the international community.

OECS Appoint Honorary Consul to Puerto Rico

kmorgan@oecs.org — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:00:00 -0400

Member countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have appointed Dr. Efrain Vazquez-Vera as Honorary Consul to Puerto Rico.