OECS Economic Union debate takes precedence over other Bills

History will be created here today when the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines seeks to have the Revised Treaty of Basseterre, which establishes the OECS Economic Union, enacted as part of this country’s laws.{{more}}

This means that the controversial Representation of the People Act, which is before a Select Committee, and for which a report was listed to be tabled in Parliament today, will be put on hold for another sitting of Parliament.

There are nine Bills listed on today’s Order Paper, but according to Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, the debate on the OECS Economic Union will take precedence.

The Economic Union makes possible the creation of a single financial and economic space within which goods, people and capital move freely; and where monetary and fiscal policies are harmonized. It will also seek to have this country join other member states in continuing to adopt a common approach to trade, health, education and environment, as well as to the develop critical sectors such as agriculture and tourism.

“On Tuesday, we’re not clogging up Parliament with anything else… .You know why? This would be the most historic piece of regional integration law, which would be coming into the Parliament of St.Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Gonsalves on Friday, May 20, at the suspension of the 53rd Meeting of the OECS Authority at the National Insurance Services conference room.

To this end, Gonsalves proudly stated: “We gone past CARICOM; they don’t want to come along, that’s fine.”

He added: “This is a dramatic change. I am asking people in the OECS, please take yourself out of the CARICOM mode of thought. CARICOM simply sets a goal for freedom of movement of persons and says only certain categories can go…that’s CARICOM.”

Gonsalves said when the new law takes effect, the issue of Vincentians requiring work permits to work in the six OECS countries that have signed on to the revised Treaty will be a thing of the past. Vincentians will no longer require work permits to work in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, and St. Kitts and Nevis.

“You walk off the plane, you walk off the boat, you show your I.D. card, passport, drivers’ license with a picture I.D., the immigration officer can’t stop you,” said Gonsalves.

He described the change that will come as dramatic and noted that the issue of freedom of movement of labour is a critical component of the OECS Economic Union.

Gonsalves said to an extent, there is a two tier system within the OECS, which creates some challenges. He said the six independent countries have “the constitutional clothing to take certain decisions in respect of certain matters, which the non-independent territories do not have. He also mentioned that another challenge has arisen where the non-independent territories are unable to open their gates as freely as the independent territories as a result of their size and population, among other factors.

The independent member states of the OECS are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Gonsalves, however, remained optimistic that amidst the challenges, both independent and non-independent members of the OECS can work together.

On this note, the new Chairman of the OECS, Prime Minister Stephenson King of St.Lucia, said during the 53rd Meeting, the OECS Authority recommitted itself to ensuring that it works to bring the non-independent member states of Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, and Montserrat on board to have equal participation and to be involved in the organization at a level considered equitable.