OECS Heads of Government gather in St. Lucia, May 23rd and 24th for the forty-seventh meeting of the OECS Authority.

OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael The establishment of an OECS Economic Union is among the major issues down for discussion. Heads are expected to finalise plans to continue the engagement of the public on the proposed union. A year-long consultation exercise was launched in Dominica, April 23rd and similar national launches are expected to take place in the other OECS Member States in the coming months. The OECS Economic Union seeks to create a single economic space among the islands which will provide an expanded base for business development and from the region can more effectively engage the rest of the world.

The two day meeting will examine OECS Canadian Strategic interests within the context of upcoming CARICOM Canada negotiations for a new Trade and Investment agreement. The Heads will also review the Member States deployment of Diplomatic and other Missions in relation to costs and effectiveness. 

The Meeting will also look at cost of living issues facing the sub-region.

The Meeting, under new OECS Chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell of Grenada, opens at 8:30 a.m. on Friday 23rd, at the Bay Gardens Resort in Rodney Bay. The incoming Chairman will be joined in addressing the Opening Ceremony by outgoing Chairman, Prime Minister Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, host Prime Minister Mr. Stephenson King of St. Lucia and OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael. 

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell The OECS Member States are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands.