The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) marks its twenty-third anniversary on Friday, June 18 th 2004.

The occasion will be observed by a flag raising ceremony at the OECS Secretariat, and messages by current OECS Chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony of St. Lucia, and OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael. 

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) marks its twenty-third anniversary on Friday, June 18 th 2004.

The occasion will be observed by a flag raising ceremony at the OECS Secretariat, and messages by current OECS Chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony of St. Lucia, and OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael.

This anniversary meets the OECS stepping up efforts to forge a closer economic union of the nine Member States. A Technical Committee has began work on establishing a new Treaty for the Organisation which will more effectively support the economic union process, and a team of consultants is visiting Member States to determine how ongoing or upcoming national constitutional reform initiatives will flow into the proposed union. OECS Member States have already passed legislation in their national parliaments which allow OECS nationals to travel through the sub-region on a valid photo ID card. Heads of Government have also agreed to pursue a common OECS passport, and received proposals on designs and costs during their last meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in May this year. 

The twenty-third anniversary also meets the OECS Secretariat reorganizing its internal structures to become a more modern, accountable, dynamic, responsive and results based organization. The Secretariat is assuming a proactive role in providing Member States with strategic intelligence and rigorous analysis of issues on which to take policy decisions.

There has also been a deepening and widening of the integration spirit through the May 19 th signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of Puerto Rico and the OECS. The new relations are expected to lead to the launch of some immediate projects to promote business and cultural ties including Spanish business programmes for OECS entrepreneurs wishing to do business in Puerto Rico and fully paid intensive Spanish and Puerto Rican culture courses for OECS citizens sponsored by the University of Puerto Rico.

The OECS was established through the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre on June 18 th 1981. The group includes Antigua/Barbuda, Anguilla, BVI, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

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 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it