Outgoing chairman of the OECS Authority Chief Minister John Osbourne of Montserrat described the state of the OECS as a ship on good course. He complimented the advancing of the strategic repositioning of the secretariat as a forward thinking approach that should modernize approaches as well as promote good governance to meet the changing demands of member countries. He advised that the secretariat manages the change process skillfully and carefully with the support of relevant stakeholders and warned that the process will continue to be challenging for all OECS Member States. 

He called for continuous serious approaches in managing the Aids crisis facing the region. Chief Minister Osbourne commended the continuous strides of the Eastern Caribbean Currency and reminded the gathering that the OECS is a significant institution that facilitates the capacity of the region’s human resources. 

The main event of the opening ceremony was the official signing of a memorandum of understanding between the OECS and Puerto Rico. 

Director General of the OECS Dr. Len Ishmael welcomed the historic development as an effort to maximize the potential of Puerto Rico as a market for tourism, trade, investment, education and training and technology transfer. She noted Puerto Rico as an important neighbour for the OECS, providing critical health care referral services a vital transportation hub and a shopping destination for countless OECS nationals. 

The memorandum of Understanding is the formalizing of relations between Puerto Rico and the OECS. Dr. Ishmeal remarked that with the new coorporation agreement the OECS and Puerto Rico celebrate the richness of Caribbean identity and collectively champion the cause of Caribbean Integration. 

Puerto Rico ’s Secretary of state Jose M. Izquierdo Encarnacion signed the Memorandum on behalf of his government. He regarded the development as a unified strategy that will help the region adjust to the demands of globalization. He said the small economies of the region can only compete worldwide if we unite to act as a major economy. He also revealed several new programmes resulting from the Memorandum of Understanding, namely a scholarship for at least two persons from each OECS member country for a course on Spanish and Puerto Rico Culture, a proposed website on education and economic incentives in both territories and a business directory covering areas such as Transportation and legal requirements governing Trade and Investment. 

Contact: 

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

Raymond O’Keiffe Comm. Officer email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it