The historic launch of the OECS ECONOMIC UNION SERIES on the OECS website took place on Tuesday March 9 th 2004. The OECS ECONOMIC UNION SERIES is part of the public education and sensitization strategy of the OECS Economic Union process.

The decision to launch the OECS ECONOMIC UNION SERIES was made at the 38 th meeting of the OECS Authority in Castries. The recommendation was made because of the quality of three papers presented on integration at the meeting. The Heads of government decided that the documents were sufficiently substantial and important for public consumption.

The recommended papers are the welcome address to the 38 th meeting by St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony, a case study of the European Union as a model for OECS Integration written by the unit at the OECS secretariat that is responsible for coordinating the process towards an OECS Economic Union and thirdly, a paper prepared by Ambassador Earl Huntley of St. Lucia that reviewed the Treaty of Basseterre to look at its appropriateness for the establishment of an Economic Union.

Those who read the OECS ECONOMIC UNION SERIES can also respond on the regional initiative by clicking on www.oecs.org. Updates on the process towards an OECS Economic Union will also be distributed through other OECS Secretariat information windows including the OECS News Link.

In the coming months, a team from the OECS Secretariat is expected to hold meetings overseas with OECS nationals living in the US and Canada as part of the public education outreach programme on Economic Union. It is the intention to do likewise in the UK.

Project Coordinator of the OECS Economic Union process Jimmy Emmanuel states that the outreach programme’s focus is to build support for the Economic Union process within the region and overseas.

In addition, the preparation of papers on the move towards an OECS Economic Union will not be exclusive to the OECS Secretariat. Emmanuel points out that the intention is to build alliances with institutions in the region including the University of the West Indies, and persons who express an interest, show the enthusiasm and have the capacity for writing and producing the required material. Emmanuel describes the OECS Economic Union process as “having to do with social and economic development”. This necessitates the need for people to be stimulated and informed in an ongoing process. The OECS ECONOMIC UNION SERIES can be accessed at www.oecs.org.

CONTACTS:
Jimmy Emmanuel- OECS Secretariat.
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 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it