Anguilla News covers Anguilla and the wider
Caribbean.
x
OECS
Nationals in Ottawa, Canada speak on role of the Diaspora in
an OECS Economic Union
Date Posted: June 11, 2008.
OECS
Secretariat, Castries St. Lucia: Enthusiastic OECS nationals
in Ottawa, Canada turned out to a Diaspora Meeting, Saturday
May 31st to hear a team from the OECS Secretariat, led by
Director General Dr. Len Ishmael, speak about plans for the
proposed OECS Economic Union.
The meeting at City Hall in Ottawa was coordinated by OECS
High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency Brendon Brown,
and was addressed by Dr. Ishmael and Director of the
Economic Affairs Division of the OECS Secretariat Mr.
Randolph Cato.
OECS nationals were told that a draft Economic Union Treaty
was available for public discussion and they were urged to
access it at the OECS website www.oecs.org and submit their
own recommendations on the provisions they would like
included in the final document. In their very focused and
forceful contribution to the discussion, several members of
the audience expressed a strong desire to see a major role
carved out for the Diaspora to participate meaningfully when
the union is established. They wanted to share their skills,
to be able to invest across the region, and to help promote
OECS interests in their adopted homeland.
The Secretariat team urged the gathering to work together to
move their ideas into action. High Commissioner Browne also
promised to work with the Secretariat to organize a
follow-up meeting at which a legal expert will be available
to discuss the specific provisions of the draft Treaty.
The audience was reminded of the long history of
collaboration among the OECS member states, which even
preceded the West Indies Federation. They were also told
that the OECS model of integration has not only stood the
test of time but is now being held up as an example to
emulate by other regions of the world. Regional successes
highlighted included the single Eastern Caribbean currency
and Central Bank; the joint Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court;
joint overseas representation including the OECS Mission in
Ottawa; and cooperation in telecommunications regulation,
civil aviation, health, education, trade and business
development, sports and culture.
In moving forward, the meeting was told, the OECS is
aggressively pursuing its developmental interests in the
changing geopolitical environment, reaching out to emerging
economic powerhouses like Brazil and countries in the
far-east. However, the participants were also told, the OECS
also continues to build on the traditional friendship of
long standing allies like Canada which in recent years has
been expanding its economic presence in the Caribbean,
especially in the banking sector where Canada owns the three
largest banks in the region. Canadian Prime Minister Mr.
Stephen Harper has pledged 600 million dollars over the next
ten years to aid the Caribbean’s development. The OECS team
has indicated that among the opportunities opened for
Canadian investment and partnerships are those in the
offshore financial sector, the creative industries, offshore
education and the health and fitness sector.The Ottawa
Diaspora meeting was part of an OECS Road Show which is
promoting the region in the Canadian cities of Halifax,
Ottawa and Calgary.
OECS
Secretariat, Castries St. Lucia: Enthusiastic OECS nationals
in Ottawa, Canada turned out to a Diaspora Meeting, Saturday
May 31st to hear a team from the OECS Secretariat, led by
Director General Dr. Len Ishmael, speak about plans for the
proposed OECS Economic Union.