BVI DELEGATION ATTENDING OECS AUTHORITY MEETING IN ST. LUCIA

Thursday, June 17, 2010

The Territory is being represented at the 51st Meeting of the OECS Authority in St. Lucia which started earlier today.

Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Mrs. Rosalie Adams, Assistant Secretary for External Affairs Ms. Najan Christopher and Fifth District Representative Honourable Elvis Harrigan left the Territory yesterday to attend the two-day meeting.

Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE left the Territory this morning and will attend the caucus session, attended by heads of government only, scheduled to commence later this afternoon. He is accompanied by Press Secretary Mr. Devon Osborne.

The other members of the delegation are attending today’s sessions focussing on economic and social issues, crime and security and international relations. Agenda items will also include the adoption of the report of the 50th Meeting of the Authority, a presentation of a draft OECS wide regional social protection and safety net framework and the presentation of the 2010-2011 work programme.

In observance of OECS Day, 18 June, the date when the OECS was established in 1981, heads of governments will sign the OECS Economic Union Treaty which will create a single financial and economic space among member countries by removing barriers to trade in goods services, capital and labour. The BVI will not be a signatory to the treaty.

The OECS Authority is the highest decision making body of the OECS and generally meets twice a year. The OECS is a nine member grouping of which the Virgin Islands and Anguilla joined as associate members in 1984 and 1995, respectively.

The seven member states are Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.