OECS Member States now have a regional Development Charter in place. Heads of Government formally accepted the OECS Development Charter at the October 10th and 11th Special Summit on the Economy in St. Kitts/Nevis.

AT A GLANCE...OECS Development Charter

The Charter, developed over several years by the OECS Secretariat and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, maps out a vision for the long term development of the region, with strategies at the national and regional levels. The historic document puts the OECS in a position to address concerns about the absence of a development framework for the region. This was identified within the wider CARICOM region as a problem affecting development.

The Charter also provides the OECS with a guide to how it deals with international trade negotiations. It is also an instrument with which the OECS can now engage international financial institutions to discuss financial assistance. These provisions are all within the context of the move towards an OECS Economic Union and plans to spur economic growth and transformation in the sub-region.

On the sectoral front the Charter speaks to economic transformation through Agriculture, Tourism, non-tourism Services, the Financial Services Sector, Manufacturing, Transportation, and Information and Communications Technology. The Charter also addresses human development with emphasis on reducing poverty through education, and substantially increasing the number and quality of jobs. It focuses on improving access to health care and provision of adequate shelter. It also promotes the empowering of disadvantaged groups to enrich their lives and advance development in the region.

The human development agenda also involves development of sports, environmental sustainability, good governance and the role of the media in seeking and disseminating information. The framers of the Charter acknowledge that the majority of proposals fall within the remit of the public sector, but say there are vital roles for the social partners in shaping and supporting the proposed strategies and the policies and actions necessary to implement them.

OECS Private sector officials who were present for the official hand over of the Charter have endorsed its proposals.

For further information pplease contact:
OECS Communications Officer Mr. Kendol Morgan at Tel: (758) 452-2537 ext 1146; fax: (758) 453-1628
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