The Government and people of Anguilla, as well as CuisinArt Resort and Spa, have been honoured this week to host the 50th meeting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Authority from Wednesday evening to Friday afternoon, November 18-20.

Bishop Brooks leading OECS Heads and other officials in prayer

It is in fact the Golden Anniversary of an organisation which, over the many years of its existence, has sought to promote unity and social, economic and financial development and cooperation in the sub-region.
The meeting commenced with a colourful opening ceremony. It involved a procession of Heads of Government with the flag bearers for the various member territories being Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinders; a fanfare by the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School Concert Band and a number of addresses by three of the Government leaders.

Chief Minister Fleming entering platform

The opening ceremony, chaired by Mr. Foster Rogers, Permanent Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office in Anguilla, commenced with the invocation by the Rt. Reverend L. Errol Brooks, Bishop of the Northeastern Caribbean & Aruba. The rest of the programme was as follows: remarks by Dr. Len Ishmael, Director General of the OECS; the welcome address by Anguilla’s Chief Minister and Host, the Hon. Osbourne Fleming; addresses by the Hon. Reuben Meade, Chief Minister of Montserrat, and the Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis and Chairman of the OECS Authority; a rendition by the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School Orchestra; and a presentation to Chief Minister Fleming by Dr. Douglas.

L-R: Governor and Mrs. Harrison, Bishop Brooks, Chief Justice Rawlins and Speaker David Carty

The Heads of Government in attendance were listed as follows – Antigua: Hon. Baldwin Spencer; Dominica: Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit; Grenada: Hon. Tillman Thomas; Montserrat: Hon. Reuben Meade; St.Kitts-Nevis: Hon, Dr. Denzil Douglas; St. Lucia: Hon. Stephenson King; St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves; British Virgin Islands: Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal; and Anguilla: Hon. Osbourne Fleming. The dignitaries were among a number of other officials and invited guests at the opening ceremony.

L-R: Hon. Kenneth Harrigan and Deputy Governor and Mrs. Reid and others

The agenda for Thursday November 19 included: status reports relating to treaty completion issues, implementation and financial matters relating to the European Union; an overview of OECS Statistical Initiatives and Launch of OECSinfo; Strategic response to the financial crisis and building resilience in the development context of agriculture, tourism, support to business, education and energy; discussions on a Regional Social Safety Protection Strategy; an update on the Stabilisation Programme; International Relations with South East Asia, Western Europe – Austria and Finland, China/Taiwan and Spain; and a Memorandum of Understanding with the US Virgin Islands. Other agenda matters for the Thursday session included a model for the OECS School of Diplomacy and an OECS Foreign Service.

Some of the invited guests including Sir and Lady Emile Gumbs and Mr. and Mrs. Hoyoung

The agenda for Friday listed the following under Security and Crime: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – OECS Project; Non RSS Security Issues and Regional Police/Prison matters.

ECCB's Governor, Sir K. D. Venner and others

Economic Affairs issues included Canada/CARICOM Trade Negotiations; World Trade Organisational matters and resolution of the status of Tax Havens; and preparations for a global summit in Copenhagen on Climate Change and Small Islands Development States in Maritius. Other business included upcoming vacancies; the status of OECS Pension; a report on the preliminary findings of a Manpower Review; and a press conference.

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