OECS approves new structure

Heads of governments from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have approved a number of measures for a new OECS Commission that will replace the St Lucia-based secretariat.

The proposals outlined in a Manpower and Workforce Plan are designed to ensure the capability of the commission in carrying out its various mandates under the Revised Treaty of Basseterre that also established an OECS Economic Union.

Subregional leaders at a special meeting here considered several critical matters relating to the economic union and the move towards establishing the commission.

According to the communiqué, the meeting received a presentation on the recommendations arising from a consultancy that undertook a strategic review of the OECS and considered "the workforce needs and a related workforce plan" for the new commission.

The leaders also agreed that member countries that have not yet appointed commissioners should do so without delay and notify the secretariat so that the new entity could be fully activated.

The special meeting also considered a report on options in the operations and geographic spread of joint and national overseas representation and considered how greater efficiencies could be attained in individual national representation in common locations.

The leaders said that the matter would be further discussed at their summit in May.

The leaders also discussed innovative ways to decrease spending, including cost-sharing in light of any additional activities envisaged under the new arrangements for the economic union.

The communiqué noted that at the request of St Lucia, they considered their participation in the East Caribbean Energy Regulatory Authority (ECERA), which is a World Bank-financed initiative.

It said the leaders did not object to the OECS Secretariat acting as the implementing agency on behalf of St Lucia, Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda, adding that the implementation arrangements for ECERA are flexible to accommodate the participation of other member states in the future.

- CMC