Implementing the OECS imperative

by Dr Arnold Thomas Fri, Jul 16, 2010

For many years some of us have been saying that OECS economic union is not optional but an imperative. The signing of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre Establishing the OECS Economic Union on June 18, 2010, makes this imperative a reality, and the people and leaders of the OECS Member States should be saluted for taking this historic step.{{more}}

Those of us who have been privileged to work in joint OECS Missions and Embassies overseas have often been asked by colleagues from other regions and countries how so many small developing countries were able to have a single mission speaking with one voice on so many issues. In Brussels at most ACP (AfricaCaribbeanPacific) meetings, we sat behind a single plaque except at ministerial meetings when we assumed the seat of a member country. At bigger events like Summits of Heads of Government, the ACP-EU Council and ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly we were there behind the plaques of individual member states, which was often confusing to our friends who would ask “which country are you today?” We became a model of integration to others, something that is often lost in the discourse among our own people.

We have come a long way since colonial times: we moved from colonial status to associated statehood, seen at the time as a necessary step for a host of reasons, but that was not enough and sovereignty beckoned. It wasn’t long before we realised that individual sovereignty had its drawbacks and our leaders in the Leeward and Windward Islands took the bold initiative to deepen cooperation by signing the Treaty of Basseterre in 1981. Basseterre provided the framework for many positive changes, but 29 years on, it was recognised that profound geopolitical changes had taken place and that it was necessary to have a re-tooled organisation that could respond to the imperatives of sustained development in a world that has been changing with alarming speed both structurally and functionally as evidenced by the current global financial crisis.

This bold move at pushing OECS integration to a deeper level has also created new space for policy initiatives in many areas as spelled out in the Revised Treaty. The overriding objective of the Treaty is the Establishment of an Economic Union of the OECS. To accomplish this objective governance arrangements have been put in place, such as the Authority of Heads of Government of the OECS, the Council of Ministers, Economic Affairs Council, OECS Assembly, and the OECS Commission. The last two organs are new while the others have been appropriately modified to meet the purposes of the Treaty.

It seems that all the requisite institutions have been provided. However, what needs to be done is the implementation of the various innovative initiatives, for example the change of the OECS Secretariat to the OECS Commission. Although the European Commission is mega-institution compared to the tiny OECS Commission, there are lots of lessons that could be learned from the Europeans.

Over the coming months much attention will be paid to the OECS agenda in meeting the purpose and functions of the new Treaty. More and more national discussions and consultations will focus on the regional OECS and CARICOM dimension and it is hoped that in this discourse the best of OECS intellect would emerge to fill the challenging roles.

Dr Arnold Thomas is a former diplomat at the Brussels-based OECS Mission.