News from OECS:
OECS conducts final leg of national consultations on trade facilitation in St Kitts-Nevis
May 15, 2013
BASSETERRE, St Kitts -- Specialists from the OECS Secretariat will be in Basseterre this week for a consultation on national and regional measures to better facilitate trade in keeping with the emerging commitments being negotiated on trade facilitation in the World Trade Organisation.
OECS ministers focus on common tourism policy
May 4, 2013
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- High level officials from across the OECS converged on Anguilla on April 25, 2013, for the 11th meeting of the OECS Council of Tourism Ministers. The meeting was convened under the theme: “OECS Economic Union...
New OECS procurement technology for medicines and medical supplies on target
May 4, 2013
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) member states are optimistic about the anticipated benefits of the pending electronic procurement system for pharmaceuticals to the people of the region.
OECS health officials to discuss electronic procurement system for pharmaceuticals
April 23, 2013
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- The OECS Secretariat will conduct a workshop in St Lucia from April 22 to 26 to perform the full testing of the operations of an electronic procurement system for the OECS Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (EPPSS).
Dominica PM discusses first sitting of the OECS Assembly
April 12, 2013
ROSEAU, Dominica (GIS) -- The prime minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, has spoken about the relevance of the recent OECS Parliament meeting. The Assembly was created under the Economic Union Treaty and its first sitting took place...
Grenada PM meets with OECS director general and delegation
April 6, 2013
ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (GIS) -- On Thursday, a delegation from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) met with Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell to discuss current issues. The delegation, comprising Director General Len Ishmael...
Nevis health minister calls for consistent health care among OECS territories
March 28, 2013
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis (NIA) -- Deputy premier of Nevis and minister of health in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Mark Brantley said on Tuesday he saw no reason why a national from St Kitts and Nevis who relocated to another Organisation of...
OECS assembly gets down to business
March 26, 2013
ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- Sub-regional parliamentarians assigned to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Assembly were due to meet in a seminar on Monday to finalise rules and procedures of the parliament ahead of Tuesday’s first sitting.
First sitting of OECS regional assembly to convene in Antigua next week
March 22, 2013
ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- The OECS Authority has convened the first sitting of the OECS Assembly on Tuesday March 26 2013. In preparation for this sitting a seminar is planned to facilitate discussion of the rules of procedure for the Assembly.
OECS member states work towards juvenile justice information system
March 20, 2013
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- OECS member states are to meet in Saint Lucia from Tuesday to Friday of this week on how to use credible data from social development programmes to further inform policies for reducing or eliminating juvenile delinquency.
Commentary: The development dilemma for Eastern Caribbean countries
March 19, 2013
Lost in a myriad of geography, culture and political philosophical conventions, the islands making up the Eastern Caribbean collectively known as the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), namely, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada...
Grenada default is credit negative for Eastern Caribbean Currency Union
March 16, 2013
NEW YORK, USA -- Last Friday, the government of Grenada indicated that it will default on its US dollar and Eastern Caribbean (EC) dollar bonds due 2025 because it has been unable to secure financing to make a coupon payment on March 15.
OECS developing action plan for yachting sector
March 12, 2013
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- Public and private sector officials from all nine OECS member states assembled in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, from February 27-28 to engage in a working session geared towards developing an action plan for the yachting sector.
Montserrat to host OECS Bar Association meeting
March 8, 2013
BRADES, Montserrat (GIU) -- Montserrat has accepted an invitation to host the OECS Bar Association meeting to be held on Saturday. Members of both the OECS Bar Association and the Judiciary of the Eastern Caribbean Court will be visiting...
Commonwealth workshop to enhance trade policy capacity of OECS member countries
March 5, 2013
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States are jointly hosting a workshop for countries in the OECS region to enhance their capacity to formulate effective trade policies.
Stanford investors sue Antigua-Barbuda and ECCB
February 19, 2013
DALLAS, USA -- Allen Stanford’s receiver and investors’ committee have sued Antigua and Barbuda, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) and 23 former Stanford Financial Group executives, alleging that they aided the financier’s $7 billion fraud.
OECS member states assess ability to facilitate trade
February 19, 2013
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- A series of national consultations for identifying national and regional measures to better facilitate trade in keeping with the emerging commitments being negotiated on trade facilitation in the World Trade Organisation (WTO)...
OECS launches multi-purpose ID system in Grenada
February 8, 2013
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada -- Grenada’s prime minister and minister responsible for ICT in Grenada, Tillman Thomas, has welcomed the launch of the multi-purpose identification (MPID) system, which he said will facilitate the easy recognition of...
OECS officials develop action plan to facilitate regional travel
February 1, 2013
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- Chief immigration officers and comptrollers of customs from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) assembled in Antigua from January 23-24 to engage in a working session geared towards developing an action plan...
Grenada prime minister welcomes new identification system for OECS
January 31, 2013
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada -- Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has welcomed a new multi-purpose identification system (MPID) for citizens of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The system provides a cost-effective...
Grenada to host regional workshop on multipurpose identification system
January 26, 2013
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada -- Over 60 regional delegates and stakeholders are expected in Grenada for the launch of the multipurpose identification system (MPID). The MPID is a subcomponent of the OECS electronic government for regional...
OECS and European Union sign funding protocol
January 25, 2013
ROSEAU, Dominica -- The OECS Secretariat and the European Delegation in Barbados have signed a funding protocol to provide financial support to OECS member states under the aegis of the 10th EDF. The programme of support entitled...
OECS and Argentina establish formal diplomatic relations
January 25, 2013
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Argentina have established formal diplomatic relations and signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation. At a short ceremony on January 15, 2013...
OECS Economic Union marks two years of operation
January 24, 2013
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- Monday marked two years since the independent member countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States commenced operation of the OECS Economic Union; a new development designed to enhance...
OECS hosts dialogue on development of construction sector
December 7, 2012
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- Key players in the OECS construction sector have been urged to think beyond their individual member state and move towards the more meaningful and cost effective approach of accessing wider markets.
ECCU launches BAICO policyholders relief programme
December 1, 2012
BASSETERRE, St Kitts -- The governments of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) have announced the commencement of phase i of the policyholders relief programme for owners of flexible premium annuity (FPA) policies...
Montserrat's energy efficiency being assessed
November 29, 2012
BRADES, Montserrat (GIU) -- The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is presently conducting an audit of the energy efficiency of all member states. Vincent David, Senior Energy Economist from Econoler of Canada visited Montserrat...
OECS Authority meets in Dominica
November 28, 2012
ROSEAU, Dominica -- The 56th meeting of the OECS Authority was convened in Dominica over the period November 22-23, 2012 under the chairmanship of Dr Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
OECS e-government project to launch partial electronic tendering system
November 8, 2012
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- The OECS Secretariat’s E-Government Regional Integration Project (OECSEGRIP) will officially launch a partial electronic tendering system on Thursday in Saint Lucia. This feat adds to the long list of achievements of member states.
OECS statistics offices to benefit from special training programme in development and research
November 3, 2012
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat in collaboration with the Mexican government and the National Institute of Statistics and Geography of Mexico (INEGI) will be implementing an...
Commentary: The independence experience of the OECS and prospects for the future - Part 7
November 1, 2012
A bundle of issues arise for ongoing reflection from the evolution of the political economy of the member-countries of the OECS and the wider CARICOM and the prospects for the future, especially in these uncertain, complicated times. I begin first with some general...
Commentary: US foreign policy disparity and hegemony in CARICOM/OECS will not change
October 31, 2012
Many in the Caribbean region and Diaspora are eagerly looking forward to the United States election results on November 6, 2012. It is generally assumed that the eagerness and interest for the results of this event are bordered on two critical issues. President Obama is...
IDB approves US$20 million for global loan program to CDB for small Caribbean countries
October 25, 2012
WASHINGTON, USA -- The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved US$20 million for a global loan program to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for projects in the four IDA-eligible OECS member countries.
Commentary: The OECS Initiative in Washington
October 20, 2012
I refer to the article by Sir Ronald Sanders which has been published in our regional press. Reference was made to the need for Caribbean countries to pool and share physical space as well as resources for effective representation in capitals.
OECS receives consignment of antiretroviral medicines from Brazil
October 19, 2012
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- The OECS Secretariat has received a consignment of antiretroviral medicines (ARVs) valued at US$142,000 from the government of Brazil to treat patients with HIV/AIDS. This consignment of ARVs represents...
Commentary: OECS member states should consider sharing consular resources and facilities in Toronto
October 18, 2012
As preparation was made to write this article, it was necessary to conduct some basic research so readers of this article will have the opportunity to glean a deeper understanding of the Caribbean consular corps in Toronto. Currently, consular missions are maintained...
OECS to launch first tax e-filing system to help boost investment and reduce expenditure
October 15, 2012
CASTRIES, St Lucia -- The OECS Secretariat is to present the official project launch for the regional tax e-filing system financed under OECS electronic government for regional integration project (EGRIP) on Monday in Rodney Bay, St Lucia.
Commentary: The independence experience of the OECS and prospects for the future - Part 4
October 10, 2012
As the global economic crisis ballooned and impacted most severely on the OECS from September 2008, and continuing, both the OECS and the ECCU decided to establish a Joint Task Force of the OECS Authority and the ECCB Monetary Council in order to provide a...
Commentary: The independence experience of the OECS and prospects for the future - Part 3
September 27, 2012
In the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), only Guyana has escaped the full brunt of the international economic trauma. Indeed, its territorial size, its economic structure, and especially its primary commodity production of sugar, rice, timber, fish, shrimp, and...
Commentary: The independence experience of the OECS and prospects for the future - Part 2
September 22, 2012
The current special period of extra-ordinary socio-economic challenges had its initial debilitating spark in the financial meltdown in the world’s major economy, the United States of America, in September 2008. This event swiftly metamorphosed into an economic...
