In other aspects, the Authority voiced their satisfaction with the progress made on legal matters and reiterated the necessity for harmonized legislation in key areas. 

OECS 39th Authority Meeting in Kingstown

The Chairman of the OECS Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony described the OECS External economic negotiations as a thorny issue. He said the Authority needed to implement mechanisms to facilitate a more visible input by OECS Governments. The Authority recommended the need for a rationalised approach because of the high costs for general participation by governments in the wide-ranging trade negotiating arena. This will facilitate among other things the campaign by vulnerable states for special and preferential treatment. It was suggested that subject areas be assigned to individual governments who will have the responsibility to articulate on the various issues using the most cost effective and practical approaches in dealing with the wide range of issues in External Economic Negotiations. The Authority was updated on the need to establish its presence in Geneva to maximise their privileges particularly at the WTO. 

The heads agreed on the need to set clear benchmarks of readiness for the proposed Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME). However they recognised the urgency for the CSME to consider special provisions in the Treaty for disadvantaged countries and communities. The OECS will register concerns at the next CARICOM summit in July 

Tourism drew much concern because of the dynamics of the industry including the performance of the cruise ship sector, standards and the need to maximise returns. There were lengthy discussions on the potential to develop the yachting sector and to ensure that the countries receive far greater returns by the skillful combination of incentives as well as administrative anomalies and differences in the various countries. 

The heads are concerned about the marginalization of particular sectors. To this end a consultant will inform them on the best approach to ensure that Taxi drivers and others continue to receive support and benefits from the arrival of cruise ships. 

Center :New OECS Authority Chairman Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony addresses the media on the1st day of the 2 day meeting. Right is New Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer while outgoing Chairman of the OECS Authority John Osbourne sits to Prime Minister Anthony's left

Concerning bananas, the challenge of introducing a tariff system was among several options discussed. The governments agreed to strengthen their technical capacity on the local and international levels to ensure that their sentiments reached all member countries of the European Union, while at the same time continue to take strategic measures in their respective territories to deal with matters facing the Banana industry. 

The 39 th OECS Authority has increased the Budget of the OECS Secretariat by 1.58 percent. Chairman of the OECS Authority Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony told an unprecedented media conference the heads were pleased with the secretariat’s programme budgeting. 

The authority was particularly pleased by the undertakings given by the government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth of Dominica assuring that they will work towards eliminating their arrears to the Secretariat. This will help to put the finances of a secretariat on a more secure footing. 

The first day of talks also heard a report from the committee on the implications of an Economic Union for the constitutions of the OECS States. 

Based on the seriousness of the topic, OECS Prison Services will be further considered at the next Authority meeting in November. These issues include the challenges and solutions experienced by prisons as well as matters such as sentencing and alternatives to sentencing. All governments were encouraged to conduct further consultations in their respective countries before revisiting the report in November to help decide on how to handle the OECS prison population as a whole. A consultant will also review standards in each island to help inform best practices. 

Addressing the media, Antigua and Barbuda’s new Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer expressed pleasure with how he has been embraced by the OECS Authority. He described the talks as an initiation with serious and productive deliberations in a spirit of camaraderie that augurs well for the future of the OECS. 

Chief minister and past chairman John Osborne of Montserrat also commended the tone of the meeting and pointed to the proposed free movement of people in the OECS as a solution to the reduced population size of Montserrat. Montserrat’s population was drastically reduced through migration following a series of volcanic eruptions in mid 1990. Chief Minister Osborne said the Free Movement of people would revive social development in areas such as Sports and Trade. The 39 th meeting of the OECS Authority ends on Friday May 21 st.

Contact: 

Kendol Morgan Senior Communications Officer OECS Secretariat This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

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