The history of the OECS will take a new turn on Wednesday February 4th 2015 when the French Territory of Martinique signs on as an Associate Member, increasing the Nine Member Grouping to 10.
The historic signing of Martinique as an Associate Member of the OECS will take place at the Hotel La Bateliere in Forte De France Martinique during the opening ceremony of the 60th Meeting of the OECS Authority.
The agenda for the 60th Meeting of the OECS Authority will include an update on the implementation of the OECS Economic Union, the Free Circulation of Goods, and issues on Sports and Healthy lifestyles. Martinique’s pending membership of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States follows a period of negotiations after the Regional Council of Martinique submitted a formal application for associate membership in the OECS with the full support/endorsement of the French Government.
In November of 2013 Dr. Didacus Jules, Secretary General of the OECS, addressed the Regional Assembly in Martinique after which the Assembly unanimously voted in favour of Martinique’s membership of the OECS. Since then the OECS Commission has been treating Martinique effectively as an Associate Member and the French Region has already been attending regional meetings on matters such as Health.
The OECS Director General describes the pending event on February 4th 2015 in Forte De France as a very historical moment: “The involvement of Martinique in the OECS; while there are limitations because of their status in relation to France, opens up great potential and certainly widens the demographics from an economic perspective. We have seen the relationship grow between Martinique and Saint Lucia and between Guadeloupe and Dominica for example.”
He continued: “What that does now is widen this to the whole OECS. The use of Martinique as a tertiary health facility centre for the OECS is something under discussion so there are a lot of opportunities. We are very concerned about not just ensuring growth in the economies of the OECS but growth with equity. It’s not enough to just grow the economy if you are growing it and only the existing players benefit, it has to be the type of growth that leads to a widening of opportunity for smaller persons; trickle-down effect; a spread of the benefits and community tourism we think will do particularly well with the engagement of Martinique and Guadeloupe. So we are expecting that this will yield great benefits in terms of weekend travel, bed and breakfast arrangements, community sporting activities, and so on.”
The 60th OECS Authority will also be updated on the Work Programme for the OECS Commission
why we don’t have any Dominica cricket players on the West Indies team?
I though all the Caribbean islands have the same currency. so what is the state of Dominica now?
Can someone explain to me how Martinique can become a member of the OECs when it isn’t a state. It’s a department of a an other country. I’d really like to understand .
And what it means for the dominican people? Well, it means loss of jobs. They have the intelligence and the savoir-faire.
welcome aboard sister Martinique.
Does that mean we can now import all these lovely things from Martinique without paying duty? What is the point otherwise?
And I hope Martinique realize that by joining they have to follow the rules, like letting members of the OECS arrive on island with only a drivers license or official identification
Barbados? you dreaming! Them bajans will never endorse such a thing. Lose their precious currency? Join dem small islands…allyuh fou!
I really doh see the benefits for the existing members with this inclusion of Martinique. Mr. Director General did not really explain in the quoted mumble jumble of words in the article. I can ‘prolly see some possible benefits for Martinique. Outside of that I eh know. Is this one of those low hanging fruits that the bosses of our regional organisations always talk about? A really easy thing to do with little reward in the long term but can make plenty noise and fanfare in the present? Fool the crowd; make it look like you doing big tings when you actually not doing anything? What is going on?
What does this mean for Dominican people. What are the benefits.
Yes marketing great, but don’t come running in Martinique like Africans in Paris, we got problems of our own…Thank you
Excellent news. Now to get Guadeloupe and Barbados on board. One Caribbean Nation!
Guadeloupe is coming; just hold on a bit
But Mark can you please the benefits ‘Dominican style?
One Caribbean Nation? HELL NO… Live Martinique alone, don’t know why they a going to do this? big mistake…WE ARE FRENCH AND CATERED FOR..
What will be Martinique flag in the OECS is the, Blue White Red .
Its The region Martinique flag and it better be.
Does that mean we can import Pepsi Cola from Martinique duty free but not from Barbados. Does it mean that we can go to Martinique without restrictions. And what about Guadeloupe? Skerrit boy, you always dividing people with your tactics. Anywasy, enjoy your dinner, it is free.