SAINT KITTS CONSIDERS PROGRESS IN INTEGRATION OF THE OECS ASSEMBLY

Basseterre, August 20 (PL)- Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Denzil Douglas, considered as an essential progress in the integration process the holding of the first meeting of the Assembly of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

That event, which took place in Antigua and Barbuda last week, focused on the progress of the single market program and support to the economic growth of member states of the subregional organization. For Douglas, the meeting was the culmination of a long process of negotiations that finally allowed the holding of the Assembly.

This group, which will meet twice a year, is one of the five organs of government of the block and was established by the Revised Treaty of Basseterre last year. It consists of five parliamentarians from each independent state and three for each non-independent member.

The importance of this Assembly pave the way for quantitative jump we are striving towards Economic Union (EU), said the prime minister in a text to the directory of the meeting released this Saturday.

The Assembly is also responsible for coordinating the functioning of the EU, trade integration treaty which came into force in January 2011.

OECS comprises Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Montserrat, while, as partners include Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

Created in 1973 in St Kitts after the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre, is the successor to the Association of East India, and has among its objectives the coordination of aid and cooperation in economic, political and social aspects.

Most member states are associated with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, financial institution that controls foreign trade, as well as a Supreme Joint Court and a military command, based in Barbados.

They also have a single currency (Eastern Caribbean dollar), a program for the free movement of people and goods and a common tariff for the foreign market.

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