BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, June 19, 2018 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, and his fellow OECS Heads of Government, are continuing their discussions on a number of important matters of regional interests, as the 65th Meeting of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Authority continues today, Tuesday, June 19, in St. Lucia.
The regional leaders commenced their dialogue during a breakfast caucus this morning. This followed a productive opening session on Monday, June 18, where matters relating to blacklisting, climate change and correspondent banking, among others were addressed at length.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the OECS heads are expected to hold wide ranging discussions on the establishment of an OECS presence in Africa, particularly as it relates to representation in the African Union and Ethiopia.
The leaders are also expected to address the implications of recent changes to the United States’ Foreign Policy on the OECS Economic Union, while the St. Kitts and Nevis delegation will make a presentation on security.
Prime Minister Harris is accompanied at the OECS heads meeting by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Mr. Osmond Petty, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Kaye Bass.
The two-day meeting is being held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Honourable Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.
The opening session was held on Monday, June 18 – the day observed annually throughout the sub-region as OECS Day in recognition of the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre, which officially established the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States in 1981.
