Martinique to be admitted into OECS
Martinique is about to be admitted to Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) as an associate member, with consideration being given to other territories for similar status.{{more}}
Chairman of the OECS Authority, Dominicaâs Roosevelt Skerrit, told the media that Martinique would be brought on board in November.
âHeads of Government noted the progress made to date on the ongoing negotiations with Martinique, the state of preparedness of Guadeloupe to commence negotiations, and the request of St Martin for associate membership of the OECS. The Authority agreed to the draft accession agreement as a basis for finalizing Martiniqueâs associate membership of the OECS.
âHere it is we are seeking to expand our own OECS family, Martinique and Guadeloupe, while they are European territories, they are within the Caribbean/OECS space, so we will be signing the agreement to bring Martinique on board as an associate member state in November⦠so we are very pleased with the decision and I assure the citizens of Martinique who have been calling for this for some time that the negotiations are finally over,â Skerrit said, as he addressed the media at the closing of the 59th OECS Authority meeting last week Saturday at the NIS conference room in Kingstown, St Vincent.
Martinique will join Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands as associate member states of the OECS, and will bring the number of the countries in the organization to 10.
The other countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Authority also paid homage to its regional counterpart Cuba, on the occasion of Cubaâs National Day, which was commemorated on the same day of the meeting.
The Heads of Government paid tribute to the people of Cuba, for their solidarity and support extended to the governments and the people of the OECS member states over the years, particularly in the areas of health care, education and infrastructure.(JJ)
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