OECS Leaders to tackle important issues at two-day meeting

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas (left) and Secretary General of the OECS Her Excellency Dr. Len Ishmael meeting in the Office of the Prime Minister last week

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MAY 17TH 2011 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas hands over chairmanship of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) at the 53rd Meeting of the OECS Authority in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Douglas was briefed by OECS Secretary General Her Excellency Dr. Len Ishmael in Basseterre last week on the May 19th and 20th meeting at the National Insurance (NIS) Conference Room which will be chaired by host Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves.

Heads of Government from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat and Anguilla will tackle the OECS Budget for the year 2011/2012, the OECS Work Programme for 2011/2012 and the qualifying benefits to Member States for the period April 2010 to March 2011.

Prime Ministers, Premier and Chief Ministers will also receive and update on the Financing of the Economic Union Work Programme, implementation of the Free Movement of people and goods in the Economic Union, the Status of Ratification and Enhancement of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre and Manpower Skills for the Economic Union.

An approach to Maritime Boundary Delimitation issues, Overseas Missions, OEFCS Third Country relations and the Diplomatic Academy are also down for discussion.

The 53rd Meeting of the OECS Authority takes place at the Peace Memorial Hall at 5 ‘o’ clock in the afternoon of Wednesday 18th May 2011.

Prime Minister Douglas will be accompanied to the meeting by Ambassador His Excellency Errol Maynard and Assistant Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister Mr. Crois Freeman.