Anguilla has witnesses the entry of Martinique as an Associate Member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Martinique is the French territory in the region to become a member of the sub-regional grouping of islands.
The formal signing of the relevant documents was done at the sixtieth Meeting of the OECS Authority which was convened in Martinique on Wednesday and Thursday, February 4 and 5.
Anguilla, which is a longstanding Associate Member of the OECS, was represented at the meeting by Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes.
The following is an edited version of a communiqué issued following the meeting:
The Sixtieth Meeting of the OECS Authority which was convened at the L’hotel la Bateliere, Schoelcher, Martinique, on Wednesday 04 and Thursday 05th February 2015 under the current Chairman – Honourable Roosevelt Skerritt, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica was a transcendental moment in the journey of the OECS to integration.
Member States in attendance and representation of Heads of Government included:
? Honourable Charles Fernandez, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Antigua and Barbuda;
? Honourable Clarice Modeste-Curwen (MD), Minister for Foreign Affairs, Grenada;
? Honourable Kenny Anthony (PhD), Prime Minister of Saint Lucia;
? Honourable Ralph Gonsalves (PhD), Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines;
? Honourable Orlando Smith (MD), Premier, of the British Virgin Islands;
? Honourable Hubert Hughes, Chief Minister of Anguilla; and
? President Serge Letchimy, Regional Council of Martinique
Also in attendance were:
? Didacus Jules (PhD), Director General, OECS Commission;
? Ambassador Irwin Larocque, CARICOM Secretary General; and
? Ms Laurel Bain, Senior Director, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank
The highlight of the Opening Ceremony was the formal signing of documents initiating the accession to Associate Membership of Martinique by President Letchimy and the Chairman of the OECS Prime Minister Skerritt. Immediately after the signing, President Letchimy was escorted to the seat of Martinique at the Authority and in an historic and symbolic moment, the Standard of the Regional Council of Martinique was placed among the rainbow of OECS Flags.
The formal opening heard addresses from the Director General of the OECS Dr. Didacus Jules, the Chairman of the Authority Hon. Roosevelt Skerritt, and received an inspiring call to action from President Letchimy filled with proposals for immediate concretization of the promise of collaboration between Martinique and the OECS.
OECS Heads congratulated Martinique for the extraordinary homecoming provided by Martinique and the effusive hospitality and professionalism of its people throughout the hosting of this Meeting.
In the main, the Meeting focused on, inter alia:
1. Advancement of the Economic Union
2. Sustainable Financing of the OECS Commission
3. Eastern Caribbean Competition Commission
4. OECS “Carve Out” in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas
5. Trade and Integration Matters
6. International Financial Services in the OECS
7. Free Circulation of Goods – Update
8. Governance of Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority
9. Modalities of Engagement of Martinique with the OECS Commission
The President of the Regional Council of Martinique informed the Meeting of various areas for cooperation and partnership, inclusive of but not limited to: health (centers of excellence), education (technical and vocational, and student exchange), and climate change. The Meeting agreed that the OECS-Martinique engagement will be a win-win engagement guided by protocols approved by both parties.
The Meeting noted that the OECS will be invited to attend a preparatory meeting (tentatively scheduled for May 2015) which will be convened in Martinique prior to the Paris COP 21 Summit scheduled for December 2015.
The OECS Director General informed the Meeting that the Commission has made arrangements to provide for office space to Martinique’s permanent representative at its Headquarters in Saint Lucia. This arrangement will facilitate efficiency in the enhanced cooperation between OECS Member States and Martinique.
