Dominica has become the second member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to ratify the treaty establishing the OECS Economic Union.
OECS heads formally signed the treaty in Castries, St. Lucia in June 2010, but ratification must become the next step in order for the economic union to be a part of countries’ law.
The initiative is to bind member states as a more unified body to allow each one to better confront international challenges such as the financial downturn, and to create a single financial and economic space.
Antigua and Barbuda was the first of the OECS states to ratify the treaty and now the Dominica cabinet has ratified the accord, OECS Ambassador, Dominican Charles Maynard, has disclosed.
He described the move as a “very significant step”.
“The OECS countries are blazing a new trail. In fact, it is interesting how a number of international bodies have sought to have relations with the OECS,” he said.
I would like to ask Baby Chavez how do you reconcile the ALBA with the OECS Economic Union.
To prophet2, lets weigh OECS and ALBA on an economic scale, which weights more. Am not against OECS but lets get real, I`ve known OECS for years but I have not seen any thing tangible. With ALBA yes, way to go, development my bro.
Another insignificant move by Charles Maynard and the Skerrit Administration .
There’s absolutely nothing there for the average citizen .
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How exactly will DA benefit?? So far no one is saying!! So we the public should not support what we don’t know!!!
To me every week I hearing that wi…”closer ties” “economic unity/union” stupes…at the end of the day, those custom officers in the different islands still watching you hard eyes when you enter their country…stupes.
Charles Maynard must give a response to his old friend Sampson and stop trying to distract us with inanities such as a futile and worthless OECS Economic Treaty.
I have mixed feelings about that. Dominica has a lot to gain ‘on paper’ but not in reality. People from the other islands will come here to work but Dominicans will not be able to do the same.
What does the union mean to the average citizen? What has governments of the region done to educate the public? Does the man in the st even know what the OECS represents and signifies? Is there much emphasis on training for people at points of entry, ministries of labor etc on these issues? Signing agreements is one thing but what is being done on the ground in respective countries to make it happen and how soon can we say it would be really effective? Before the governments create fanfare about these things they should get real and practical.
Long live the OECS and down with ALBA.