Guadeloupe becomes OECS Associate Member

Guadeloupe OECS

The Caribbean island of Guadeloupe – an overseas Department of France, has formally joined the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) – a regional grouping comprising the independent and non independent countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,  St Vincent and The Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Martinique.

The official ceremony confirming Guadeloupe as an Associate Member of the Organisation took place in Basse Terre, Guadeloupe on Thursday March 14th at 5 p.m. at the University des Antilles, Basse-Terre.OECS Chairman and Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. The Hon Ralph Gonsalves said the accession of the French Territory was a momentous occasion in the life of the OECS and in furtherance of the deepening and broadening of the regional integration of small Eastern Caribbean islands.“Our geographical propinquity, shared history of European colonialism, and the reality of our Caribbeanness — the essence of our Caribbean civilization — all pre-dispose us to a closer union in the interest of our people’s humanisation” said Prime Minister Gonsalves.The accession agreement on Thursday comes about two years after a report commissioned by the government of Saint Lucia urging OECS integration for both Guadeloupe and Martinique. This move will foster better cooperation between Guadeloupe and other OECS members while promoting unity and solidarity among members of the Regional grouping.

“The insertion of our archipelago in our regional area is obvious: it is undoubtedly one of our assets, an asset on which we must build our place in the world. Guadeloupe, located in the middle of the island arch of the Lesser Antilles, shares a strong community of interest with the CARICOM member states and more particularly with the member states or OECS partners,” said Ary Chalus, president of Region Guadeloupe shortly before the signing.

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8 Comments

  1. bush tea
    March 21, 2019

    so i can go live in gwada den?

  2. carlty
    March 18, 2019

    Welcome on board Guadeloupe. Making the necessary steps.:-D:-D. We need to be reminded that these associate members still operating under France.

  3. PF
    March 18, 2019

    So as a new member of the O.E.C. S their main currency will be E.C. dollars?

  4. Karl Orndem
    March 18, 2019

    will we still need insurance, hotel reservation or invitation letter etc to travel there for a week or two now?

  5. i love francais
    March 17, 2019

    Free Movement of Persons
    The Free Movement of Persons is widely recognized as enhancing economic prosperity within a common union and it is a key feature of the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union. The OECS Commission work with a variety of state and non-state actors to uphold and review regional policy settings in relation to the Free Movement of Persons.

    Presently, citizens of OECS Members States are permitted to move, reside and work freely in Member States without the need for a work permit or skills certificate. There are many advantages to enabling OECS citizens to move between Member States including the issue of skilled labour shortages

    tell me about it gwada and martinique.

  6. %
    March 17, 2019

    Good move from the popularists movement in G/loupe this is 48 yrs over due. Let’s united Caribbean and keep the Sinos out of our region.

  7. Workers of Iniquity
    March 16, 2019

    Now is Guada that in the news man? I also heard a woman left DA and went to Guadalupe to fulfill Mr. Man mission and next thing she she forgot to turn on her clock so the met the big frog in Abyme, and tied her there. Boy that happened the same day the Evil man went to Guadalupe and they from same village? Awa mamzel was on a mission for mister and since Mr falling this time all his suku falling too.

  8. UKDominican
    March 16, 2019

    I really hope this is not just ceremonial but wil manifest itself in practical ways also such as the dismantling of tariffs and free movement of people between the territories. Otherwise it will mean preciously little. Our politicians love grandstanding with ydocuments that often are of less tangible value than toilet paper

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