Chairman of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Prime Minister of Commonwealth of Dominica virtually participated in the 40th anniversary of the OECS organized in St Lucia.
In his message to people of the OECS, Dr. Skerrit stated that the breakup of the West Indies Federation in 1962 and the fracture of Caribbean people’s dreams did not mark an end to aspirations , but the beginning of a new ambition.
Shredding a light on the historical backgrounds, OECS Chairman stated that in 1965 Sir William called an economic and political union of 8 nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines.
PM Skerrit noted, “Emerging from the cloud of disappointment that shrouded the optimism of regional will was the movement in 1967 from coronal states to incipient statehood in the configuration of the West Indies associated states, in that year 1967 the embers of regional unity were kindled in the establishment of a supporting architecture.”
He added, “A West Indies associated state supreme court which ultimately enveloped into the eastern Caribbean court of appeal & subsequently the Eastern Caribbean supermen court in 1981 .”
Besides this, he also stated that the defunct currency of the federation, the British West Indies Dollar, was resurrected in 1965 as the eastern Caribbean dollar through the Eastern Caribbean Currency Authority, which subsequently found its sovereign identity in Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.
He stated that the ignition of this flame led the nations on a progressive, systematic path of designing the union.
“The transformation of the journey of the eight to what we now celebrate today as the solidarity of the eleven; it was this journey that led us to the milestone,” stated Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit.
“This 40th year is a historical marker on a road of increasing convergence greater anticipation & unyielding possibility.” OECS Chairman said.
He further noted, “We have reached this milestone for one simple reason, we have always focused on the things that unite us rather than the things that divide us .”
As a prime minister of Dominica, Dr. Skerrit attested to the sense of support, the infusion of courage, and the reinforcement of hope that he experienced in spite of the physical and emotional destruction of literally everything on the island by Hurricane Maria.
PM Skerrit notes that he got support & solidarity during the tough time from OECS.
OECS achievements of the past four decades
1) Eastern Caribbean dollar maintained a fixed and immutable exchange rate against the US dollar and is now the strongest and most stable currency in the Caribbean.
2) The freedom of movement of people allows the citizens of member states to travel without hindrance or restriction to work, play & to study, or to relocate to follow cannibal or follow a crusade.
3) In this journey of 40 years, new members also joined the OECS, including British Virgin Island, Anguilla and Monterey, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. The new additions resulted in new cultural and linguistic texture to the character of the OECS community.
4) Over the past 40 years, OECS Pharmaceutical procurement service transacted almost one billion US dollars worth of medicines and essential medical supplies to health systems of OECS nations, saving an additional five million dollars
