Dr. Len Ishmael, Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (the OECS) returns to Castries following a successful visit to the OECS Technical Mission in Geneva from January 31 to February 3, 2011.  The visit formed part of regular management oversight visits conducted by senior management of the OECS to its overseas missions.

While in Geneva, the OECS Director General met with Mr. Pascal Lamy, Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and with selected key Ambassadors to the WTO including the Head of the European Union Delegation and the Coordinators of CARICOM, the Small Vulnerable Economies (SVEs) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Groups.

During her encounters, the OECS Director General provided details on the establishment of the OECS Economic Union and the coming into force of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre on January 21, 2011.  She provided information on the new governance structures contained in the Revised Treaty.  She also advised of the current review taking place of the deployment of the region’s resources in overseas representational activities. The value and importance of the OECS Mission in Geneva was emphasised as was the challenge of maintaining such a presence outside of external support.

In her meeting with Mr. Lamy the OECS Director General sought and received an agreement from her WTO counterpart to use his good offices to assist the OECS in securing financial support to enable a continued presence in Geneva for the short to medium term.  The OECS Mission came into high praise from the WTO DG Lamy who commended the Mission for its contribution to the negotiating process in Geneva through its work within the SVEs and the ACP Groups and in the negotiating groups in representing the region’s interests.  He made reference to the OECS “consistently punching above its weight”.

As the main financial contributor to the organisation’s presence in Geneva, the Director General made a courtesy call on H.E. Angelos Pangratis Head of the Permanent Delegation of the European Union in Geneva.  Dr. Ishmael on behalf of the Member States expressed the gratitude to the European Union for their continued financial support to the Mission.

On February 2, Dr. Len Ishmael attended and delivered a short statement to an informal meeting of the Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) the highest negotiating body of the WTO. Speaking on behalf of the OECS WTO Member States Dr. Ishmael briefly outlined the key interests of the OECS in the negotiations and called for the key players to demonstrate the required leadership and flexibility to bring a successful conclusion to the round.

Dr. Ishmael departed Geneva on Thursday February 3, 2011.