User:JKRichard/sandbox

The 15 elected members of the House of Assembly were elected in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system.^[2]

A total of 43 candidates contested the elections.^[3] The two biggest parties were the incumbent Unity Labor Party of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and the opposition New Democratic Party of Arnhim Eustace, both of which ran candidates in all the 15 constituencies. Smaller parties included the Green Party and the Democratic Republican Party, who only competed in seven and six constituencies respectively.^[4]

As 11,902 registered voters were first-time voters, both major parties looked to woo young voters. Gonsalves emphasised the importance of the youth as "solutions to the problem of our civilisation" rather than "problems to be solved." Eustace announced initiatives aimed at decreasing unemployment, including "proposals for youth, sports, and culture."^[4]

The OAS sent an observer team.^[5] There were 227 polling stations, which opened between 07:00 and 17:00.^[4]

In reaction to the win Gonsalves said: "I am humbled and honoured that the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines embraced our bold vision for the future and rejected the politics of hate,"^[6] he also called for national unity to address developmental challenges. However he added that there were issues in the constituencies of North Leeward and South Leeward and "we are also calling for an immediate recount to ensure that all the votes are counted in those constituencies. There are more rejected ballots than the margin and those ballots should be examined closely to determine the intent of the voters."^[6]

The NDP refused to concede the defeat according to inconsistencies in the Central Leeward constituency. A party statement read: "We of the New Democratic Party are confident that we have won the general elections based on figures received by our various polling agents. Our figures show that we won the Central Leeward seat by six votes, which means that we won the general elections by eight seats to seven."^[7] Leader of the opposition Arnhim Eustace, who won his seat against ULP candidate Luke Brown by fewer than 50 votes, added that there were many irregularities took place in his constituency of East Kingstown, including "illegal voting, and contradictory voters list to agents."^[6]

Category:2015 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Category:2015 elections in the Caribbean 2015

This article's factual accuracy is disputed. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced. (July 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Vincentian Creole is an English-based creole language spoken in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It contains elements of French and Antillean Creole, and various Iberian Romance languages. It has also been influenced by the indigenous Kalinago/Garifuna elements and by African language brought over the Atlantic Ocean by way of the slave trade. Over the years the creole has changed to be more English-based. It does not have the status of an official language

4. Phonology ⇫ Table 2. Vowels front central back close i, ii u close-mid ei, ai/oi o, oo, ou open-mid e ʌ <uh> open a, aa Three of the five simple oral vowels in Vincentian Creole can be lengthened to provide minimal pairs, as in e.g. slip ‘slip’ vs. sliip ‘sleep’; pat ‘pot’ vs. paat ‘part’; bo ‘bow’ vs. boo ‘bore’. The phoneme /u/ can be lengthened without bringing about a change in meaning, so that skul ‘school’ can be realized as [skul] or [skuul]. The phoneme /e/ is realized with a relatively high F1 value, indicating that it has a tendency to be open. The open-mid vowel /ʌ/ is articulated at a relatively central-back position.

There are four closing diphthongs, three of which are closed by [i], the other closing diphthong being /ou/. Note that [ai] and [oi] are allophones of the same phoneme since morphemes that take [oi] can also be realized with [ai] without any risk of ambiguity: ‘boy’ is realized as [bai], [bwai] or [boi]. There are no opening diphthongs.

    There are 22 consonants, two of which are glides.

Table 3. Consonants

bilabial

labio-dental

apico-alveolar

alveolar

post-alveolar

palatal

velar

labio-velar

glottal

plosive

voiceless

p

t

k

voiced

b

d

g

nasal

m

n

ŋ <ng>

fricative

voiceless

f

s

ʃ <sh>

h

voiced

v

z

ʒ <zh>

affricate

voiceless

tʃ <ch>

voiced

dʒ <j>

liquid

l, r

glide

j <y>

w

The phoneme /z/ is relatively rare in onset position: zu ‘zoo’ and ziro ‘zero’. It is more common in final position: koolz ‘coal’. When they are in the onset position, /k/ and /g/ tend to be palatalized before /e/, /a/, and /u/. The liquid [r] may not have phonemic status following the affricates: jein and jrein can both be glossed ‘drain’, chu and chru can be glossed ‘true’.

   Syllable structure: A mere V or any combination of CV or VC can constitute a syllable. CCCV structures obligatorily have a liquid or a glide in the third position and an unvoiced plosive in the second position: skru ‘screw’, spwail ‘spoil’, strent ‘strength’. A cluster of 3 consonants can follow the nucleus, the condition being that the “nasal/liquid + unvoiced plosive + s” ordering should be respected as in muhmps ‘mumps’, ants ‘ants’, jingks ‘jinx’ and wilks ‘top shell’.

    In polysyllabic words, stress is generally assigned to the first syllable (cf. Prescod 2006: 61), failing which, stress falls on the syllable that contains a long vowel or a diphthong: teliˈfoon ‘telephone’ and on the syllable before -shan and -zan: badaˈreishan ‘trouble’, teliˈvizan ‘television’.

5. Noun phrase ⇫ Vincentian Creole nouns are invariable. The independent lexemes man (masculine) / oman (feminine) can precede the nominal to indicate natural gender: man-dakta, ‘male doctor’; oman-dakta ‘female doctor’. Sometimes, a lexeme borrowed from the lexifier is used alongside the generic term to indicate natural gender, generally as regards animals: ram-goot ‘ram’, yo-goot ‘ewe’.

The definite (di, i) and indefinite (a, wan) articles find their source in the lexifier the and a/one. They are preposed to the nominal.

    Vincentian Creole nouns are typically unmarked for number, but speakers may resort to specific devices to dispel ambiguity for the listener. The most used device for number marking is postposing dem, a dem or an dem to the nominal on condition that the definite article precede the noun: di pikni an dem ‘the children’. The three forms tend to be interchangeable although dem (3PL pronoun) is perceived as less basilectal. The pluralizing morphemes /s/, /z/, /iz/ are borrowed from the lexifier. Some nominals may appear to bear the final pluralizing morpheme when in fact they do not have plural reference. In fact, these nominals can combine with the singularizing determiner wan. Such is the case with nominals that are generally found in large numbers: wan ants ‘an ant’, wan machiz ‘a match’, wan piiz ‘a pea’. Additionally, these nominals can be given plural reference by post-posing an dem: di piiz an dem ‘the peas’.

Some words have only [+plural] lexical entries. These cannot combine with the determiner wan. These nominals are usually used as bare nominals or combined with ‘some’: yaaz ‘sores’, klooz ‘clothes’. Generic noun phrases are generally bare (1). However, all bare nouns do not yield generic readings. Example (2) has only specific reference.

(1) Shaat kuht duhz breik man bak.1

        short     cut         hab        break       man      back 

    ‘You can end up in harmful situations if you try to take shortcuts.’ (proverbial; lit. ‘Shortcut breaks a man’s back’)

(2) Hi shoda duhn bi praim minista bifoo nou.

        he      should.irr   incep     be   prime    minister     before      now  

        ‘He should have been the Prime Minister long before now.’ (Prescod fieldwork 2004)

The adnominal demonstratives dis and da(t) indicate proximity and distance. The particles ya, de and (ova) yaanda may then follow the nominal: dis ting ya ‘this thing here’; da ting de ‘that thing there’; da ting ova yaanda ‘that thing way over there’. Yanda only combines with the distal marker da, and never dis. The pronominal demonstratives are dis/ dis-ya, da(t)/da(t)-de and da(t)-de-yaanda.

    There are two sets of adnominal possessives as shown in Table 5. The unstressed paradigm can be identified with the three paradigms of personal pronouns provided in the same table. Both sets of adnominal possessives precede the noun (foyu pikni ‘your child’ or yo pikni ‘your child’). The pronominal possessives are expressed combining the stressed adnominal possessive with the particle oon:

(3) Mek yo na tek foyu oon?

        make   2sg   neg   take    your      own

        ‘Why didn’t you take yours?’

Possessor noun phrases display two patterns. In the first case, two nominals are juxtaposed following the possessor + possessee pattern as in (4). In the second case, the construction follows the possessee + fo + possessor pattern, as in (5). Both patterns are equally common and interchangeable.

(4) di oman pikni

        the    woman child

        ‘the woman’s child’

(5) di pikni fo di oman

        the    child      for     the    woman

        ‘the woman’s child’

Adjectives are invariant and precede the noun. Comparative and superlative adjectives may be inflected or analytical or both, as illustrated in Table 4. Dan ‘than’ is the standard marker.

Table 4. Morphology of comparative and superlative adjectives

adjective

comparative of superiority

superlative

morphological type

bad ‘bad’

wos dan ‘worse’

di wos ‘the worst’

inflected

mo bad dan

analytical

di badis

inflected

wosa dan,

mo wosa dan

di wosis,

di moos wosis

inflected,

inflected + analytical

taal ‘tall’

taala dan ‘taller’

di taalis ‘the tallest’

inflected

mo taala dan

di moos taalis

inflected + analytical

tosti ‘thirsty’2

tostiya dan ‘thirstier’

di tostiyis ‘the thirstiest’

inflected

mo tostiya dan

di moos tostiyis

inflected + analytical

Source: Adapted from Prescod (2004: 129)

In comparative constructions of equality, the adjective is unmarked and the standard is preceded by laik ‘like’ as in i taal laik mi ‘He/She is as tall as I am’.

    Dependent and independent personal pronouns are almost identical, i.e. the paradigm of independent personal pronouns can be found among the dependent pronouns.

Table 5. Personal pronouns and adnominal possessives

dependent pronouns

independent pronouns

adnominal possessives

subject

object

stressed

unstressed

1sg

mi / a

mi

mi

fomi

mi

2sg

yo / yu

yo / yu

yu

foyu

yo

3sg (m)

i / hi

i / hi / uhm

hi

fohi

i / hi

3sg (f)

i / shi

i / shi / uhm

shi

foshi

i / shi

1pl

aawi / wi

aawi / wi

aawi / wi

fowi / aawi

wi

2pl

aayo /yaal

aayo /yaal

aayo /yaal

foyu / aayo

yaal

3pl

dem / de

dem / de

dem

fodem

dem / de

Neither the 1sg subject pronoun a nor the 3sg object pronoun uhm can show up in any other paradigm. Uhm cannot appear in environments that are stressed or independent. This is also why the 3sg gender-neutral pronoun i cannot be used as an independent form. Whereas hi and shi are [+human] and gender specified, i and uhm refer to [±human], [±animate], [±concrete].

(6) Mi 1sg

si see

Hari Harry

yestade. yesterday

Yo 2sg

shoda should.have

si see

uhm. 3sg

I 3sg

ha have

nyu new

kyaa. car I saw Harry yesterday. You should have seen him. He has a new car. (7) If yo a lok fo chobl yo go get uhm.

        if       2sg   prog   look       for    trouble    2sg      fut      get    3sg 

        ‘If you are looking for trouble, you will find it.’

The choice between the alternative plural pronoun forms depends on register: aawi, aayo and dem are located on the far end of the basilectal range.

6. Verb phrase ⇫ Table 6. Tense-aspect markers

lexical aspect

aspect/tense

Ø

dynamic verbs

perfective past

stative verbs, adjectival predicate

simple present

duhz

all predicates

habitual present

generic/simple present

duhn

dynamic verbs

completive past

stative verbs, adjectival predicate

continuative/inceptive

bin,

did (meso)

dynamic verbs

simple past

past-before-past

stative verbs, adjectival predicate

simple past

bin duhn

/ did duhn

dynamic verbs

completive past

stative verbs, adjectival predicate

continuative/inceptive past

a

dynamic verbs

progressive present

future

habitual present

stative verbs, adjectival predicate

habitual present

generic present

de a

dynamic verbs

progressive present

duhz de a

dynamic verbs

habitual progressive present

bin de a

dynamic verbs

progressive past

go

all predicates

future

go duhn

dynamic verbs

perfective future

go duhn

stative verbs, adjectival predicate

continuative/inceptive future

(bin/did) yuuz tu

all predicates

habitual past

Table 6 suggests that there is a complex system of tense and aspect in Vincentian Creole. The notion of lexical aspect is central to determine which verbs can combine with the different tense and aspect markers.

Unmarked verbs do not have the same tense readings depending on whether they are dynamic verbs, statives or adjectival predicates. Zero-marked statives and adjectival predicates yield a simple present interpretation, whereas unmarked dynamic verbs yield a perfective past reading. For a dynamic verb to have a present reading it must be pre-modified by duhz from English does (8).

(8) Wan-wan duhz fol baaskit.

        one-one        hab          full      basket

        ‘Little by little things get done.’ (generic reading possible)

Another aspectual marker that comes from do in English is duhn ‘done’. Again, it yields different readings for dynamic verbs (9) as opposed to stative verbs and adjectival predicates (10). Any combination of a non-dynamic predicate with duhn gives the idea of a process whose inception is being focused on and where one needs to stress the unfinished, continuative result or situation (10).

(9) Yes Seira, evriting did duhn sain an siil an dileva.

        yes    Sara,   everything   pst      comp     sign  and   seal     and   deliver

        ‘Yes Sara, everything had been signed, sealed and delivered.’

(10) Shi duhn lang an taal aredi se shi a wei hai hiil.

        3sg      incep     long  and   tall      already    say    3sg    prog   wear high    heel

        ‘She is already very tall, yet she is wearing high heels.’

The putative progressive marker yields progressive aspect only with dynamic verbs. Thus, the combinations with de a, (bin de a, duhz de a) only appear with dynamic predicates (11).

(11) Paal de a baal.

        Paul       prog     bawl

        ‘Paul is crying.’

Table 7. Modal particles

Type of modality

particle

English equivalent

deontic

(obligation/necessity)

mos

hafo/gafo

buhngfo

fo

poostu

shod

kyaa(n)

‘must’

‘have to’

‘bound to/have to’

‘supposed to’

‘supposed to/should’

‘should’

‘should not’

deontic possibility

kod

‘can’

epistemic (probability)

mosi

mait

‘may (have)/probably’

‘might’

epistemic (positive likelihood)

mós

‘will definitely’

epistemic (negative likelihood)

kyaa(n)

‘can’t’

volition (future)

go

‘will’

volition (past)

goo

‘tried/intended to’

Modal particles can combine quite easily with tense and aspect particles.

(12) Mi duhz hafo de a wuhk.

        1sg    hab     have.to  prog   work

        ‘I usually have to be working.’

(13) Yo mosi duhz kyaa hei.

        2sg    mod     hab        can’t   hear

        ‘It is probably impossible for you to understand.’

The morpheme duhz suggests this is always the case in any similar situation.

(14) A man duhz kyaa res a dei taim.

        indf     man    hab        can’t        rest      prep    day   time

        ‘One can’t rest during the day.’ =generic negative likelihood

The particle a cliticizes with wod ‘would’, kod ‘could’, mait ‘might’ and shod ‘should’ to express counterfactuals.

(15) If i bin no i woda duhn rich.

        if       3sg   pst    know     3sg   would.have    comp     reach

        ‘If he had known, he would have already arrived.’

Sentential negation is expressed by na, which typically precedes all tense, aspect and modality markers.

(16) Pikni yo na fo chruhkshan.

        child      2sg      neg      for    aggressive

        ‘Child, you should not be aggressive.’

However, some markers attract the clitic -n rather than the independent preposed negation particle na. This is so if the negative particle could be integrated into the tma marker, reminiscent of the equivalents used in the lexifier. Examples are duhz, duhzn ‘doesn’t’; muhs, muhsn ‘mustn’t’; kyaan ‘can’t’, kod, kodn, ‘couldn’t’; wod, wodn ‘wouldn’t’. Completive duhn follows the negator, whereas inceptive/continuative duhn may precede or follow it (17).

(17) Yo 2sg

duhn incep

na neg

priti pretty

aredi, already

yo 2sg

kyaa can't

skin skin

uhp up

yo 2poss

feis face

so. so You are not seen as a pretty person so you shouldn't make such funny faces. (lit. You are already not pretty, so you can't make faces.) Vincentian Creole participates in negative concord. Negative indefinite pronouns that are part of the verb phrase must co-occur with sentential negation (18). When the negative indefinite is subject of the sentence, sentential negation is optional (19).

(18) Hi na du nuhtn fo help nobadi.

        3sg    neg   do     indf.thing  for  help  indf.body

        ‘He didn’t do anything to help anybody.’

(19) Nobadi (na) si mi.

        indf.body  (neg)   see    1sg

        ‘Nobody saw me.’

Predicative adjectives (20) and predicative locative phrases (21) do not require the copula, whereas predicative noun phrases (22) do.

(20) Hi dootish.

        3sg        stupid

        ‘He is stupid.’

(21) Di pleit (de) in di seif.

        def    plate (loc.cop)     in    def   safe

        ‘The plate is in the safe.’

(22) Hi a wan pasta.

        3sg    cop   indf  pastor

        ‘He is a pastor.’

The copula also surfaces as a focalizer either before the np or the relative pronoun in relative clauses where the topic is foregrounded.

(23) A di man hu se so.

        foc   def   man    rel   say    so

        ‘It was the man who said that.’

(24) Di man a hu se so.

        def      man      foc        rel      say    so

        ‘The man is the one who said that.’

7. Simple sentences ⇫ Vinentian Creole has an SVO word order with neither the subject nor the object being case-coded. In ditransitive clauses, the indirect object precedes the direct object (25). This is quite unlike the preference for the direct + indirect object ordering observed in the lexifier. However, if a complementizer is used to introduce the recipient, the direct object immediately follows the verb (26). In this case, the recipient will typically be introduced by ge.

(25) Di man ge hi pikni plenty moni.

        def    man  give   3poss     child   plenty    money

        ‘The man gave a lot of money to his child. / The man gave his child a lot of money.’

(26) I bai kaa ge shi.

        3sg.sbj    buy   car       give   3sg.obj

        ‘He bought her a car. / He bought a car for her.’

There is an expletive subject pronoun i which can be avoided, since the same sentence can be full-np headed.

(27) I ha/ga plenti waata in di skuul yaad.

        exp    have/get     plenty    water       in      def   school    yard

        ‘There is a lot of water in the school yard.’

(28) Plenti waata (de) in di skuul yaad.

        plenty water    (loc.cop)   in      def    school   yard

        ‘There is a lot of water in the school yard.’

There is no morphologically marked passive voice. Unmarked verbs can be used as counterparts of English passives.

(29) I leta duhn sen.

        def    letter     compl      send

        ‘The letter has been sent.’

Reflexivization is obtained via the use of lexical reflexives, body parts and the intensifier self.

    The lexical reflexives are limited to verbs of grooming (30). This strategy is not pervasive. Body parts can be used in an almost superfluous way to express reflexivizaton as in (31) and (32). The most common reflexivization strategy involves the use of the intensifier self, post-posed to any of the personal pronouns apart from a, as in (33) and (34).

(30) Dem de a beid.

        3pl      prog   bath

        ‘They are washing themselves.’

(31) Dem de a beid dem skin.

        3pl.sbj    prog   bath    3pl.poss           skin

        ‘They are washing themselves.’

(32) Mi na a bada mi brein.

        1sg      neg   prog   bother   1sg.poss  brain

         ‘I do not bother myself (lit. I am not bothering my brain).

(33) I a taak tu iself.

        3sg    prog   talk   to      3sg.self

        ‘He/She is talking to him/herself.’

(34) I gyeli juhs a fuul shiselfi.

        the    girl    just     prog   fool   3sg.self

        ‘The girl is just fooling herself.’ (Prescod 2004: 93)

The reciprocal voice is lexically marked with wan anoda (35) or neks tugyeda (36). The latter is limited to contexts where locality is expressed.

(35) Dag an kyat na a liv god wid wan anoda.

        dog   and   cat       neg   prog live    good with    one      another

        ‘Dogs and cats do not live well with each other.’

(36) Dem de a sliip neks tugyeda.

        3pl.sbj  prog     sleep    next       together

        ‘They are sleeping next to each other.’

Causative voice is expressed via mek. The causee appears between the causative morpheme and the main verb.

(37) Na mek mi ratid.

        neg        make       1sg      angry  

        ‘Don’t make me angry.’ (ratid < English wrath)

8. Interrogative and focus constructions ⇫ In content questions, the question word is fronted (38). At times, it remains in situ (39).

(38) Wen aawi a go si yo?

        when   1sg.sbj  fut    go     see       2sg.obj

        ‘When are we going to see you?’

(39) Aawi a go si yo wen?

        1sg.sbj    fut   go      see    2sg.obj when

        ‘When are we going to see you?’

Polar questions resemble declarative statements except for their rising intonation pattern.

The particle a is used in focus constructions. It appears left of the focused element, which may be an np, a vp, a pp, a relative pronoun, etc. Except for the relative pronoun which remains in situ, all other focused elements appear clause initially (cf. example 24 above).

9. Complex sentences ⇫ The coordinating conjunctions are an ‘and’, buh/buht ‘but’ and aa ‘or’.

In object clauses, verbs of speaking and perception are followed by the complementizer clause da hou ‘that how’.

Adverbial clauses are introduced by bifoo ‘before’, aafta ‘after’/‘when’, wen ‘when’, if ‘if’, kaa/bikaa ‘because’. Other reflexes of English adverbials may surface in situations parallel to both systems. The intensifier self is used in contexts where English if surfaces, as in concessive clauses with even if: iivn self i kaal ‘even if he/she calls…’.

Relative pronouns hu, we, hufa follow the head np. The pronouns themselves have different realizations depending on the register and the context.

Table 8. Relative pronouns

Vincentian Creole

English

we, wa, da

‘which, that’

hu, we, da

‘who, that’

we, da, we paa

‘where’

hufa

‘whose’

wen

‘when, that’

All positions can be relativized in Vincentian Creole. Relativized elements generally leave no trace in the relative clause. A copy pronoun may, however, appear outside the embedded clause, i.e. in the main clause. It always copies the topic, but never the relativized element. The copy pronoun does not operate as a relativization strategy, but rather as a discourse marker whose role is to remind us of the topic, which becomes distanced from the predicate.

(40) Di def

mani man

hu rel

Ø

mek make

di def

woman woman

faal fall

duhng down

hii 3sg.sbj

de loc.cop

de. there The man who made the woman fall is there. Prepositions are stranded when oblique constituents are relativized.

(41) Di bai we mi tel yo bout liv de.

        def    boy     rel    1sbj  tell    2obj  about  live      there

        ‘The boy I told you about lives there.’ (Prescod 2004: 207)

When relativization accompanies foregrounding, only locatives can be dislocated from sentence-final position.

(42) A pan buhlk ship we di bai mek aal dat moni.

        foc   on     bulk    ship    rel   def    boy     make   all   that     money

        ‘It was on a cargo-ship that the boy earned all that money.’ (Prescod 2004: 207)

10. Other features ⇫ Nominal complementation may be achieved via the use of fo < English for.

(43) Mi ha fifti dalaz fo spen.

        1sg    have    fifty     dollars     comp     spend

        ‘I have fifty dollars to spend.’

This construction is quite similar to that of purpose clauses but differ in their interpretations, since nominal complements are similar to reduced relative clauses (‘which I can/want to spend’). In purpose clauses, the complementizer pivots the goal sought after (‘in order to bake’).

(44) Shi hafo go a Back Street fo beik.

        3sg    have.to  go   loc     Back Street      comp   bake

        ‘She has to go to Back Street to bake.’

In the domain of morphology, derivation is relatively productive. Suffixation and conversion participate in the formation of deverbal nouns chapv ‘chop’/ chapiin ‘a cutlass’; kokv kokn ‘a social meal’ <English cook (Prescod 2008: 345, 347).

• Antiguan Creole
• Belizean Creole
• Jamaican Patois
• Bajan Creole
• Bermudian English
• Trinidadian Creole
• Antillean Creole

Category:Languages of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Category:English-based pidgins and creoles Category:Languages of the Caribbean Category:Languages of the African diaspora

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Organisation des États de la Caraïbe orientale (French)
Logo
Protocol member   Associate member   Observer
Commission	Castries
Working languages	English French
Type	Political and economic union
Membership	7 protocol   Antigua and Barbuda   Dominica   Grenada   Montserrat   Saint Kitts and Nevis   Saint Lucia   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4 associate   Anguilla   Guadeloupe   British Virgin Islands   Martinique
Leaders
• Chairman	Ralph Gonsalves
• Director-General	Didacus Jules
Establishment
• Treaty of Basseterre	18 June 1981
• Revised Treaty of Basseterre	21 January 2011
Area
• Total	2,709 km2 (1,046 sq mi)
• Including Associate Members	5,910 km2 (2,280 sq mi)
Population
• 2017 estimate	615,724
• Including Associate Members	1,434,212
• Density	215.6/km2 (558.4/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2017 estimate
• Total	$6.7 billion $29.6 billion (Including Associate Members) [1]
• Per capita	$10,879 $20,622 (Including Associate Members) [1]
Currency	3 currencies East Caribbean Dollar (Protocol members and Anguilla) US Dollar (British Virgin Islands) Euro (Guadeloupe, Martinique)
Time zone	UTC-4 (OECS)
Internet TLD	10 TLDs    .ai    .ag    .vg    .dm    .gd    .gp    .mq/.fr    .ms    .kn    .lc    .vc
Website www.oecs.org

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS; French: Organisation des États de la Caraïbe orientale, OECO) is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance between countries and dependencies in the Lesser Antilles in the Eastern Caribbean. It also performs the role of spreading responsibility and liability in the event of natural disaster.

The main organ of the OECS is the Commission, which is based in Castries, the capital city of Saint Lucia.

OECS was created on 18 June 1981, with the Treaty of Basseterre, which was named after the capital city of St. Kitts and Nevis. OECS is the successor of the Leewards Islands' political organisation known as the West Indies Associated States (WISA).

One prominent aspect of OECS economic bloc has been the accelerated pace of trans-national integration among its member states.

All of the members-states of the OECS (except for Martinique) are either full or associate members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and were among the second group of countries that joined the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Martinique is currently negotiating to become an associate member of the Caribbean Community.

OECS currently has ten Eastern Caribbean members, which together form a near-continuous archipelago across the Leeward Islands and Windward Islands. Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and Martinique are only associate members of OECS. Diplomatic missions of the OECS do not represent the associate members. For all other purposes, associate members are treated as equals of full members.

Six of the members were formerly colonies of the United Kingdom. Three others, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, and Montserrat remain overseas territories of the UK while Martinique, is a part of the French Republic as an overseas department and region of France. Eight of the ten members consider Queen Elizabeth II to be sovereign (Dominica is a republic with a President). There is no requirement for the members to have been British colonies; however, the close historical, cultural and economic relationship fostered by almost all of them having been British colonies is as much a factor in the membership of the OECS as their geographical proximity.

All seven full members are also the founding members of the OECS, having been a part of the organisation since its founding on 18 June 1981. The British Virgin Islands was the first associate member, joining on 22 November 1984 and Anguilla was the second, joining in 1995. Martinique became an associate member on April 12, 2016^[2] becoming the first non-British or formerly British territory to join the OECS.^[3][4] Guadeloupe is due to accede as an associate member of the OECS on March 14, 2019 at a Special Meeting of the OECS Authority to be held on that island on March 14-15, 2019.^[5][6]

The list of full and associate members of the OECS is as follows:

State	Capital	Joined	Population (2017)	Area (km²)	GDP (Nominal) (millions of US$)	GDP (Nominal) per cap.	HDI New 2017 [7]	Currency	Official Language(s)
Antigua and Barbuda	St. John's	Founder	91,244[8]	443	1,524[8]	$16,702[8]	0.780	East Caribbean dollar	English
Dominica	Roseau	Founder	70,693[8]	751	557[8]	$7,879[8]	0.715	East Caribbean dollar	English
Grenada	St. George's	Founder	107,541[8]	344	1,119[8]	$10,405[8]	0.772	East Caribbean dollar	English
Montserrat	Brades	Founder	4,417[9]	102	63[9]	$12,301[9]	0.821	East Caribbean dollar	English
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Basseterre	Founder	55,411[8]	261	964[8]	$17,397[8]	0.778	East Caribbean dollar	English
Saint Lucia	Castries	Founder	175,498[8]	617	1,684[8]	$9,607[8]	0.747	East Caribbean dollar	English
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Kingstown	Founder	110,185[8]	389	785[8]	$7,124[8]	0.723	East Caribbean dollar	English
Anguilla	The Valley	1995	15,253[10]	96	337[10]	$22,090[10]	0.865	East Caribbean dollar	English
British Virgin Islands	Road Town	1984	35,015[11]	151	1,164[11]	$33,233[11]	0.945	United States dollar	English
Guadeloupe	Basse-terre	2019	393,640[12]	1,628	10,946[12]	$27,808[12]	0.850	Euro	French
Martinique	Fort-de-France	2015	374,780[12]	1,128	10,438[12]	$27,851[12]	0.863	Euro	French

Although almost all of the current full and associate members are past or present British dependencies, other islands in the region have expressed interest in becoming associate members of the OECS. The first was the United States Virgin Islands, which applied for associate membership in February 1990^[13] and requested that US Federal Government allow the territory to participate as such.^[14] At that time, it was felt by the US government that it was not an appropriate time to make such a request. However, the US Virgin Islands remained interested in the OECS and, as of 2002, stated that it would revisit the issue with the US government at a later date.^[14] In 2001, Saba, an island of the Netherlands Antilles, decided to seek membership in the OECS. Saba's Island Council had passed a motion on May 30, 2001 calling for Saba's membership in the organisation and subsequently on June 7, 2001, the Executive Council of Saba decided in favour of membership. Saba's senator in the Netherlands Antilles parliament was then asked to present a motion requesting the Antillean parliament to support Saba's quest for membership. In addition to the support from the Antillean parliament, Saba also required a dispensation from the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to become an associate member of the OECS.^[15] Saba's bid for membership was reportedly supported by St. Kitts and Nevis and discussed at the 34th meeting of OECS leaders in Dominica in July.^[16] Also in 2001, Sint Maarten, another part of the Netherlands Antilles, explored the possibility of joining the OECS. After learning of Saba's intentions to join, St. Maarten suggested exploring ways in which Saba and St. Maarten could support each other in their pursuit of membership.^[17]

None of the prospective members have become associate members as yet, but Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten do participate in the meetings of the Council of Tourism Ministers^[18] (as the Forum of Tourism Ministers of the Eastern Caribbean, along with representatives of Saint-Martin, Saint Barthélemy, Martinique and Guadeloupe).^[19]

On 13 August 2008 the leaders of Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines announced their intention to pursue a sub-regional political union within CARICOM.^[20][21] As part of the preliminary discussions the Heads of Government for the involved states announced that 2011 would see their states entering into an economic union.^[22][23] This was however derailed by a change of government in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010.

In 2008 the heads of the OECS also received a request from Venezuela to join the grouping.^[24]

The OECS Director General Len Ishmael confirmed Venezuela's application was discussed at the 48th Meeting of the OECS Authority held in Montserrat. But she said OECS decision makers within the sub-region were yet to determine whether membership should be granted for Venezuela.

 

 

The functions of the Organization are set out in the Treaty of Basseterre and are coordinated by the Secretariat under the direction and management of the Director General.

The OECS functions in a rapidly changing international economic environment, characterised by globalisation and trade liberalisation which are posing serious challenges to the economic and social stability of their small island members.

It is the purpose of the Organisation to assist its Members to respond to these multi-faceted challenges by identifying scope for joint or coordinated action towards the economic and social advancement of their countries.

The restructuring of the Secretariat was informed by considerations of cost effectiveness in the context of the need to respond to the increasing challenges placed on it, taking into account the limited fiscal capacities of its members. The Secretariat consists of four main Divisions responsible for: External Relations, Functional Cooperation, Corporate Services and Economic Affairs. These four Divisions oversee the work of a number of specialised institutions, work units or projects located in six countries: Antigua/Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, St Lucia, Belgium, Canada, and the United States of America.

In carrying out its mission, the OECS works along with a number of sub-regional and regional agencies and institutions. These include the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB); the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat; the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) ^[25] and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

The authority within the OECS Secretariat is led by the Director General. The current Director General of the OECS is Dr. Didacus Jules (Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council), who took his new position on 1 of May 2014. The former Dr. Len Ishmael demitted the office at the end of December 2013.^[26]

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), which was created during the era of WISA, today handles the judicial matters in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. When a trial surpasses the stage of High Court in an OECS member state, it can then be passed on to the ECSC at the level of Supreme court. Cases appealed from the stage of ECSC Supreme Court will then be referred to the jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) was established in 2003, but constitutional changes need to be put in place before the CCJ becomes the final Court of Appeal.^[27]

• Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority

A common OECS Passport was originally planned for January 1, 2003^[28] but its introduction was delayed. At the 38th OECS Authority Meeting in January 2004, the Secretariat was mandated to have the two companies expressing an interest in producing the common passport (De La Rue Identity Systems and the Canadian Banknote Company^[29]) make presentations at the next (39th) Authority Meeting.^[30] At the 39th Meeting the critical issue of the relationship between the OECS passport and the CARICOM passport was discussed^[29] and at the 40th OECS Authority Meeting in November 2004, the OECS Heads of Government agreed to give CARICOM a further 6 months (until May 2005) to introduce a CARICOM Passport. Failure to introduce the CARICOM Passport by that time would have resulted in the OECS moving ahead with its plans to introduce the OECS Passport.^[31] As the CARICOM Passport was first introduced in January 2005 (by Suriname) then the idea of the OECS Passport was abandoned. Had the passport been introduced however it would not have been issued to Economic Citizens within the OECS states.^[32]

It would also be unknown if the islands under British sovereignty would join the scheme (all British passports have the same European design).

The decision to establish an economic union was taken by OECS Heads of Government at the 34th meeting of the Authority held in Dominica in July 2001. At the 35th meeting of the Authority in Anguilla in January 2002, the main elements of an economic union implementation project were endorsed. The project was expected to be implemented over a two-year period with seven of the nine OECS member states (i.e. Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) participating in the economic union initiative. The remaining two member states, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, would not have participated immediately, but would have requested time to consider the issue further.^[28] In 2003, work had been initiated on the central issue of the creation of new Treaty arrangements to replace the Treaty of Basseterre which established the OECS.^[33] Among the elements of the project was the creation of a technical committee for a draft OECS Economic Union Treaty. This technical committee was inaugurated on May 4, 2004 and began designing the draft Treaty.^[34]

The new OECS Economic Union Treaty was finally presented at the 43rd OECS Meeting in St. Kitts on June 21, 2006.^[35] The current draft Treaty was commended at the meeting, but the Authority directed the formulation of some additional provisions to allow a role for national parliamentary representatives (both government and opposition) of the Member States in the form of a regional Assembly of Parliamentarians. This body, it was felt, was necessary to act as a legislative filter to the Authority in its law making capacity. The Heads further directed that the Treaty be reviewed by a meeting of members of the Task Force, Attorneys General, the draftsperson for the Treaty and representatives of the OECS Secretariat.

The presentation of the Treaty at the Meeting was followed by the signing of a Declaration of Intent to implement the Treaty by the Heads of Government or their representatives (except that of the British Virgin Islands). It was agreed in the Declaration, that implementation of the Treaty would occur only after a year of public consultation, through a mass national and regional education programme with strong political leadership and direction. According to the Declaration, the Treaty was to be signed, and the Economic Union was to be established by July 1, 2007.^[36]

This intended deadline was missed, however, and after the signing of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre Establishing the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Economic Union on June 18, 2010,^[37][38] the newest target date of January 21, 2011 was met when five of the six independent signatory Member States ratified the Treaty.^[39] These were Antigua and Barbuda (December 30, 2010), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (January 12, 2011), St. Kitts and Nevis (January 20, 2011), Grenada (January 20, 2011) and Dominica (January 21, 2011).^[40] In order for the Treaty to have entered into force at least four of the independent Member States must have ratified it by January 21, 2011.^[41] Montserrat had received entrustments from the United Kingdom to sign the Treaty^[37] but is unlikely to be in a position ratify the Treaty before a new constitution comes into force in the territory.^[42] Following the need of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank to temporarily assume control of two indigenous commercial banks in Anguilla, the Chief Minister of Anguilla, Hubert Hughes, announced on August 12, 2013 that Anguilla will seek to join the OECS Economic Union as soon possible in order to fully participate in the strategy of growth conceived by the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (which was crafted within the context of the Economic Union).^[43] He was supported in his position by St. Lucia's Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony, who also called on Anguilla to join the Economic Union to complement its membership of the Currency Union.^[44]

The provisions of the Economic Union Treaty prior to its ratification were expected to include:^[45][46]

• The free circulation of goods and trade in services within the OECS
• Free movement of labour by December 2007
• The free movement of capital (via support of the money and capital market programme of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank)
• A regional Assembly of Parliamentarians
• A common external tariff.

Some of these provisions would already have been covered to some extent by the CSME, but some, such as the Assembly of Parliamentarians, would be unique to the OECS. Although some of the provisions would seem to duplicate efforts by the CSME, the Declaration of Intent^[35] and statements by some OECS leaders,^[47][48] acknowledge the CSME and give assurance that the OECS Economic Union would not run counter to CARICOM integration but that it would become seamlessly integrated into the CSME. To this end, the OECS Heads of Government agreed that steps should be taken to ensure that the OECS Economic Union Treaty would be recognised under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, just as the original Treaty of Chaguaramas had recognised the Treaty of Basseterre. ^[49]

This was achieved in 2013 at the Twenty-Fourth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM held in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from 18–19 February 2013. At that conference CARICOM leaders adopted the OECS’ Revised Treaty of Basseterre into CARICOM’s Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves said would effectively give CARICOM member states the opportunity of integrating initially with the OECS and taking a seemingly quicker path to integration.^[50] In order to achieve this the Conference agreed that the Inter-Governmental Task Force (IGTF) revising the Treaty of Chaguaramas would recognise the provisions of the Treaty establishing the Economic Union of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The IGTF was mandated to refer back to the Conference at its next meeting on this issue.^[51]

The Economic Union Treaty's provisions are now expected to establish a Single Financial and Economic Space within which goods, people and capital move freely; harmonize monetary and fiscal policies Member States are expected continue to adopt a common approach to trade, health, education and environment, as well as to the development of such critical sectors as agriculture, tourism and energy.^[40] The Economic Union Treaty (or Revised Treaty as it is sometimes known) will also create two new organs for governing the OCES; The Regional Assembly (consisting of members of parliaments/legislatures) and The Commission (a strengthened Secretariat).^[52] The free movement of OECS nationals within the subregion is expected to commence in August 2011 after a commitment towards that goal by the Heads of Government at their meeting in May 2011.^[53]

This was achieved on schedule with the six independent OECS members and later Montserrat with nationals being allowed to enter the participating Member States without hindrance and remain for an indefinite period in order to work, establish businesses; provide services or to reside.^[54][55] The free movement of OECS nationals throughout the Economic Union is underpinned by legislation and is facilitated by administrative mechanisms ^[55] This is achieved by OECS nationals entering the special immigration lines for CARICOM nationals when traveling throughout the Economic Union and presenting a valid photo ID and completed Entry/Departure form whereupon the immigration officer shall grant the national entry for an indefinite period save where the national presents a security risk or where there exists some other legal basis for prohibiting entry.^[56]

The majority of the OECS members-states are participants of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) monetary authority. The regional central bank oversees financial and banking integrity for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States economic bloc of states. Part of the bank's oversight lends to maintaining the financial integrity of the East Caribbean dollar (XCD). Of all OECS member-states, only the British Virgin Islands and Martinique do not use the East Caribbean dollar as their de facto native currency.

All other members belong to the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.

The OECS sub-region has a military support unit known as the Regional Security System (RSS). It is made up of the independent countries of the OECS along with Barbados. The unit is based in the island of Barbados and receives funding and training from various countries including the United States, Canada and the People's Republic of China.

The Pharmaceutical Procurement Service, also known as the Eastern Caribbean Drug Service, procures medicines and allied health equipment on behalf of the member States. It has an 840 item product portfolio based on the regional formulary.^[57] it is said to generate savings of $5 million a year.^[58]

The flag and logo of the OECS consists of a complex pattern of concentric design elements on a pale green field, focused on a circle of nine inwardly pointed orange triangles and nine outwardly pointed white triangles. It was adopted June 21, 2006, and first raised on that day at Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.^{[59] [60]}

• Association of Caribbean States
• Caribbean Community
• European Economic Area
• Eastern Caribbean Davis Cup team
• Eastern Caribbean Fed Cup team
• Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange
• Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
• List of Indigenous Names of Eastern Caribbean Islands
• List of regional organizations by population
• Regional Security System (OECS state members and Barbados)
• Residence Card
• West Indies Associated States

• Official website
• Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB)
• Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC)
• Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Limited (ECTEL)
• Education Reform Unit (OERU)^{[permanent dead link]}
• OECS Export Development Unit (OECS-EDU)
• OECS Cultural Network

Category:Lesser Antilles Eastern Caribbean States Category:International diplomatic organizations Category:International economic organizations Category:International political organizations Category:International organizations based in the Americas Category:Intergovernmental organizations established by treaty Category:Economy of the Caribbean Category:Politics of the Caribbean Category:Organizations established in 1981 Category:1980s establishments in the Caribbean Category:1981 establishments in North America Category:Foreign relations of Antigua and Barbuda Category:Foreign relations of Dominica Category:Foreign relations of Grenada Category:Foreign relations of Saint Kitts and Nevis Category:Foreign relations of Saint Lucia Category:Foreign relations of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Category:Organisations based in Saint Lucia Category:Politics of Anguilla Category:Politics of Antigua and Barbuda Category:Politics of the British Virgin Islands Category:Politics of Dominica Category:Politics of Grenada Category:Politics of Martinique Category:Politics of Montserrat Category:Politics of Saint Kitts and Nevis Category:Politics of Saint Lucia Category:Politics of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Category:Antigua and Barbuda–Grenada relations Category:Antigua and Barbuda–Saint Lucia relations Category:Grenada–Saint Vincent and the Grenadines relations Category:Saint Lucia–Saint Vincent and the Grenadines relations Category:United Nations General Assembly observers

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Organisation des États de la Caraïbe orientale (French)
Logo of the OECS
OECS protocol member states (dark green) and associate member states (light green) highlighted in the Eastern Caribbean.
Commission	Castries 14°01′N 60°59′W / 14.017°N 60.983°W / 14.017; -60.983
Working language	English French
Membership	7 protocol   Antigua and Barbuda   Dominica   Grenada   Montserrat   Saint Kitts and Nevis   Saint Lucia   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4 associate   Anguilla   British Virgin Islands   Martinique
Leaders
• Chairman	Ralph Gonsalves
• Director General	Didacus Jules
Establishment
• Treaty of Basseterre	18 June 1981
• Revised Treaty of Basseterre	21 January 2011
Area
• Total	2,709 km2 (1,046 sq mi)
• Including Associate Members	4,282 km2 (1,653 sq mi)
Population
• 2016 estimate	629,454
• Including Associate Members	1,059,982
• Density	245.7/km2 (636.4/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	$6.56 billion $17.7 billion (Including Associate Members) [1]
• Per capita	$10,304 $16,557 (Including Associate Members) [1]
Currency	3 currencies East Caribbean Dollar (Protocol members and Anguilla) US Dollar (British Virgin Islands) Euro (Martinique)
Time zone	UTC-4 (OECS)
Internet TLD	10 TLDs    .ai    .ag    .vg    .dm    .gd    .mq/.fr    .ms    .kn    .lc    .vc
Website www.oecs.org

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS; French: Organisation des États de la Caraïbe orientale, OECO) is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal rights, and the encouragement of good governance between countries and dependencies in the Lesser Antilles in the Eastern Caribbean. It also performs the role of spreading responsibility and liability in the event of natural disaster.

The main organ of the OECS is the Commission, which is based in Castries, the capital city of Saint Lucia.

OECS was created on 18 June 1981, with the Treaty of Basseterre, which was named after the capital city of St. Kitts and Nevis. OECS is the successor of the Leewards Islands' political organisation known as the West Indies Associated States (WISA).

One prominent aspect of OECS economic bloc has been the accelerated pace of trans-national integration among its member states.

All of the members-states of the OECS (except for Martinique) are either full or associate members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and were among the second group of countries that joined the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Martinique is currently negotiating to become an associate member of the Caribbean Community.

OECS currently has ten Eastern Caribbean members, which together form a near-continuous archipelago across the Leeward Islands and Windward Islands. Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and Martinique are only associate members of OECS. Diplomatic missions of the OECS do not represent the associate members. For all other purposes, associate members are treated as equals of full members.

Six of the members were formerly colonies of the United Kingdom. Three others, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, and Montserrat remain overseas territories of the UK while Martinique, is a part of the French Republic as an overseas department and region of France. Eight of the ten members consider Queen Elizabeth II to be sovereign (Dominica is a republic with a President). There is no requirement for the members to have been British colonies; however, the close historical, cultural and economic relationship fostered by almost all of them having been British colonies is as much a factor in the membership of the OECS as their geographical proximity.

All seven full members are also the founding members of the OECS, having been a part of the organisation since its founding on 18 June 1981. The British Virgin Islands was the first associate member, joining on 22 November 1984 and Anguilla was the second, joining in 1995. Martinique became an associate member on April 12, 2016,^[2] the first non-British or formerly British territory in the OECS.^[3][4]

The list of full and associate members of the OECS is as follows:

State	Capital	Joined	Population[5][6] (2021)	km²	GDP (PPP) $Million	GDP (PPP) per capita [7]	HDI New 2013 [8]	Currency	Official Language(s)
Antigua and Barbuda	St. John's	Founder	93,219	443	1,709	$20,977	0.760	East Caribbean dollar	English
Dominica	Roseau	Founder	72,412	751	952	$13,102	0.745	East Caribbean dollar	English
Grenada	St. George's	Founder	124,610	344	1,142	$11,498	0.770	East Caribbean dollar	English
Montserrat	Brades	Founder	4,417	102	99	$8,500	0.821	East Caribbean dollar	English
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Basseterre	Founder	47,606	261	892	$20,929	0.745	East Caribbean dollar	English
Saint Lucia	Castries	Founder	179,651	617	2,071	$10,560	0.725	East Caribbean dollar	English
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Kingstown	Founder	104,332	389	1,237	$10,663	0.733	East Caribbean dollar	English
Anguilla	The Valley	1995	15,753	96	108	$8,800	0.865	East Caribbean dollar	English
British Virgin Islands	Road Town	1984	31,122	151	853	$42,300	0.945	United States dollar	English
Martinique (Overseas France)	Fort-de-France	2015	368,796	1,128	10,700	$27,688	0.904	Euro	French

Although almost all of the current full and associate members are past or present British dependencies, other islands in the region have expressed interest in becoming associate members of the OECS. The first was the United States Virgin Islands, which applied for associate membership in February 1990^[9] and requested that US Federal Government allow the territory to participate as such.^[10] At that time, it was felt by the US government that it was not an appropriate time to make such a request. However, the US Virgin Islands remained interested in the OECS and, as of 2002, stated that it would revisit the issue with the US government at a later date.^[10] In 2001, Saba, an island of the Netherlands Antilles, decided to seek membership in the OECS. Saba's Island Council had passed a motion on May 30, 2001 calling for Saba's membership in the organisation and subsequently on June 7, 2001, the Executive Council of Saba decided in favour of membership. Saba's senator in the Netherlands Antilles parliament was then asked to present a motion requesting the Antillean parliament to support Saba's quest for membership. In addition to the support from the Antillean parliament, Saba also required a dispensation from the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to become an associate member of the OECS.^[11] Saba's bid for membership was reportedly supported by St. Kitts and Nevis and discussed at the 34th meeting of OECS leaders in Dominica in July.^[12] Also in 2001, Sint Maarten, another part of the Netherlands Antilles, explored the possibility of joining the OECS. After learning of Saba's intentions to join, St. Maarten suggested exploring ways in which Saba and St. Maarten could support each other in their pursuit of membership.^[13]

None of the prospective members have become associate members as yet, but Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten do participate in the meetings of the Council of Tourism Ministers^[14] (as the Forum of Tourism Ministers of the Eastern Caribbean, along with representatives of Saint-Martin, Saint Barthélemy, Martinique and Guadeloupe).^[15]

On 13 August 2008 the leaders of Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines announced their intention to pursue a sub-regional political union within CARICOM.^[16][17] As part of the preliminary discussions the Heads of Government for the involved states announced that 2011 would see their states entering into an economic union.^[18][19] This was however derailed by a change of government in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010.

In 2008 the heads of the OECS also received a request from Venezuela to join the grouping.^[20]

The OECS Director General Len Ishmael confirmed Venezuela's application was discussed at the 48th Meeting of the OECS Authority held in Montserrat. But she said OECS decision makers within the sub-region were yet to determine whether membership should be granted for Venezuela.

 

 

The functions of the Organization are set out in the Treaty of Basseterre and are coordinated by the Secretariat under the direction and management of the Director General.

The OECS functions in a rapidly changing international economic environment, characterised by globalisation and trade liberalisation which are posing serious challenges to the economic and social stability of their small island members.

It is the purpose of the Organisation to assist its Members to respond to these multi-faceted challenges by identifying scope for joint or coordinated action towards the economic and social advancement of their countries.

The restructuring of the Secretariat was informed by considerations of cost effectiveness in the context of the need to respond to the increasing challenges placed on it, taking into account the limited fiscal capacities of its members. The Secretariat consists of four main Divisions responsible for: External Relations, Functional Cooperation, Corporate Services and Economic Affairs. These four Divisions oversee the work of a number of specialised institutions, work units or projects located in six countries: Antigua/Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, St Lucia, Belgium, Canada, and the United States of America.

In carrying out its mission, the OECS works along with a number of sub-regional and regional agencies and institutions. These include the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB); the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat; the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM) ^[21] and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

The authority within the OECS Secretariat is led by the Director General. The current Director General of the OECS is Dr. Didacus Jules (Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council), who took his new position on 1 of May 2014. The former Dr. Len Ishmael demitted the office at the end of December 2013.^[22]

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), which was created during the era of WISA, today handles the judicial matters in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. When a trial surpasses the stage of High Court in an OECS member state, it can then be passed on to the ECSC at the level of Supreme court. Cases appealed from the stage of ECSC Supreme Court will then be referred to the jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) was established in 2003, but constitutional changes need to be put in place before the CCJ becomes the final Court of Appeal.^[23]

• Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority

A common OECS Passport was originally planned for January 1, 2003^[24] but its introduction was delayed. At the 38th OECS Authority Meeting in January 2004, the Secretariat was mandated to have the two companies expressing an interest in producing the common passport (De La Rue Identity Systems and the Canadian Banknote Company^[25]) make presentations at the next (39th) Authority Meeting.^[26] At the 39th Meeting the critical issue of the relationship between the OECS passport and the CARICOM passport was discussed^[25] and at the 40th OECS Authority Meeting in November 2004, the OECS Heads of Government agreed to give CARICOM a further 6 months (until May 2005) to introduce a CARICOM Passport. Failure to introduce the CARICOM Passport by that time would have resulted in the OECS moving ahead with its plans to introduce the OECS Passport.^[27] As the CARICOM Passport was first introduced in January 2005 (by Suriname) then the idea of the OECS Passport was abandoned. Had the passport been introduced however it would not have been issued to Economic Citizens within the OECS states.^[28]

It would also be unknown if the islands under British sovereignty would join the scheme (all British passports have the same European design).

The decision to establish an economic union was taken by OECS Heads of Government at the 34th meeting of the Authority held in Dominica in July 2001. At the 35th meeting of the Authority in Anguilla in January 2002, the main elements of an economic union implementation project were endorsed. The project was expected to be implemented over a two-year period with seven of the nine OECS member states (i.e. Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) participating in the economic union initiative. The remaining two member states, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, would not have participated immediately, but would have requested time to consider the issue further.^[24] In 2003, work had been initiated on the central issue of the creation of new Treaty arrangements to replace the Treaty of Basseterre which established the OECS.^[29] Among the elements of the project was the creation of a technical committee for a draft OECS Economic Union Treaty. This technical committee was inaugurated on May 4, 2004 and began designing the draft Treaty.^[30]

The new OECS Economic Union Treaty was finally presented at the 43rd OECS Meeting in St. Kitts on June 21, 2006.^[31] The current draft Treaty was commended at the meeting, but the Authority directed the formulation of some additional provisions to allow a role for national parliamentary representatives (both government and opposition) of the Member States in the form of a regional Assembly of Parliamentarians. This body, it was felt, was necessary to act as a legislative filter to the Authority in its law making capacity. The Heads further directed that the Treaty be reviewed by a meeting of members of the Task Force, Attorneys General, the draftsperson for the Treaty and representatives of the OECS Secretariat.

The presentation of the Treaty at the Meeting was followed by the signing of a Declaration of Intent to implement the Treaty by the Heads of Government or their representatives (except that of the British Virgin Islands). It was agreed in the Declaration, that implementation of the Treaty would occur only after a year of public consultation, through a mass national and regional education programme with strong political leadership and direction. According to the Declaration, the Treaty was to be signed, and the Economic Union was to be established by July 1, 2007.^[32]

This intended deadline was missed, however, and after the signing of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre Establishing the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Economic Union on June 18, 2010,^[33][34] the newest target date of January 21, 2011 was met when five of the six independent signatory Member States ratified the Treaty.^[35] These were Antigua and Barbuda (December 30, 2010), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (January 12, 2011), St. Kitts and Nevis (January 20, 2011), Grenada (January 20, 2011) and Dominica (January 21, 2011).^[36] In order for the Treaty to have entered into force at least four of the independent Member States must have ratified it by January 21, 2011.^[37] Montserrat had received entrustments from the United Kingdom to sign the Treaty^[33] but is unlikely to be in a position ratify the Treaty before a new constitution comes into force in the territory.^[38] Following the need of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank to temporarily assume control of two indigenous commercial banks in Anguilla, the Chief Minister of Anguilla, Hubert Hughes, announced on August 12, 2013 that Anguilla will seek to join the OECS Economic Union as soon possible in order to fully participate in the strategy of growth conceived by the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (which was crafted within the context of the Economic Union).^[39] He was supported in his position by St. Lucia's Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony, who also called on Anguilla to join the Economic Union to complement its membership of the Currency Union.^[40]

The provisions of the Economic Union Treaty prior to its ratification were expected to include:^[41][42]

• The free circulation of goods and trade in services within the OECS
• Free movement of labour by December 2007
• The free movement of capital (via support of the money and capital market programme of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank)
• A regional Assembly of Parliamentarians
• A common external tariff.

Some of these provisions would already have been covered to some extent by the CSME, but some, such as the Assembly of Parliamentarians, would be unique to the OECS. Although some of the provisions would seem to duplicate efforts by the CSME, the Declaration of Intent^[31] and statements by some OECS leaders,^[43][44] acknowledge the CSME and give assurance that the OECS Economic Union would not run counter to CARICOM integration but that it would become seamlessly integrated into the CSME. To this end, the OECS Heads of Government agreed that steps should be taken to ensure that the OECS Economic Union Treaty would be recognised under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, just as the original Treaty of Chaguaramas had recognised the Treaty of Basseterre. ^[45]

This was achieved in 2013 at the Twenty-Fourth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM held in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from 18–19 February 2013. At that conference CARICOM leaders adopted the OECS’ Revised Treaty of Basseterre into CARICOM’s Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves said would effectively give CARICOM member states the opportunity of integrating initially with the OECS and taking a seemingly quicker path to integration.^[46] In order to achieve this the Conference agreed that the Inter-Governmental Task Force (IGTF) revising the Treaty of Chaguaramas would recognise the provisions of the Treaty establishing the Economic Union of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The IGTF was mandated to refer back to the Conference at its next meeting on this issue.^[47]

The Economic Union Treaty's provisions are now expected to establish a Single Financial and Economic Space within which goods, people and capital move freely; harmonize monetary and fiscal policies Member States are expected continue to adopt a common approach to trade, health, education and environment, as well as to the development of such critical sectors as agriculture, tourism and energy.^[36] The Economic Union Treaty (or Revised Treaty as it is sometimes known) will also create two new organs for governing the OCES; The Regional Assembly (consisting of members of parliaments/legislatures) and The Commission (a strengthened Secretariat).^[48] The free movement of OECS nationals within the subregion is expected to commence in August 2011 after a commitment towards that goal by the Heads of Government at their meeting in May 2011.^[49]

This was achieved on schedule with the six independent OECS members and later Montserrat with nationals being allowed to enter the participating Member States without hindrance and remain for an indefinite period in order to work, establish businesses; provide services or to reside.^[50][51] The free movement of OECS nationals throughout the Economic Union is underpinned by legislation and is facilitated by administrative mechanisms ^[51] This is achieved by OECS nationals entering the special immigration lines for CARICOM nationals when traveling throughout the Economic Union and presenting a valid photo ID and completed Entry/Departure form whereupon the immigration officer shall grant the national entry for an indefinite period save where the national presents a security risk or where there exists some other legal basis for prohibiting entry.^[52]

The majority of the OECS members-states are participants of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) monetary authority. The regional central bank oversees financial and banking integrity for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States economic bloc of states. Part of the bank's oversight lends to maintaining the financial integrity of the East Caribbean dollar (XCD). Of all OECS member-states, only the British Virgin Islands and Martinique do not use the East Caribbean dollar as their de facto native currency.

All other members belong to the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.

The OECS sub-region has a military support unit known as the Regional Security System (RSS). It is made up of the independent countries of the OECS along with Barbados. The unit is based in the island of Barbados and receives funding and training from various countries including the United States, Canada and the People's Republic of China.

The flag and logo of the OECS consists of a complex pattern of concentric design elements on a pale green field, focused on a circle of nine inwardly pointed orange triangles and nine outwardly pointed white triangles. It was adopted June 21, 2006, and first raised on that day at Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.^{[55] [56]}

• Association of Caribbean States
• Caribbean Community
• European Economic Area
• Eastern Caribbean Davis Cup team
• Eastern Caribbean Fed Cup team
• Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange
• Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
• List of Indigenous Names of Eastern Caribbean Islands
• List of regional organizations by population
• Regional Security System (OECS state members and Barbados)
• Residence Card
• West Indies Associated States

• Official website
• Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB)
• Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC)
• Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Limited (ECTEL)
• Education Reform Unit (OERU)^{[permanent dead link]}
• OECS Export Development Unit (OECS-EDU)
• OECS Cultural Network

Grenadine Islands
Region of the Caribbean
Location within the Grenadines.
Region	Caribbean
Island States	2   Grenada   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Area
• Total	83 km2 (32 sq mi)
Population
• Total	est. 16,100
• Density	196.1/km2 (508/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−5 (AST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (ADT)

JKRichard/sandbox

Geography
Location	North-western Europe
Coordinates	54°N 4°W / 54°N 4°W / 54; -4
Adjacent to	Atlantic Ocean
Area	315,159 km2 (121,684 sq mi)
Highest elevation	1,344 m (4409 ft)
Administration
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Demographics
Population	71,881,243
Languages	English, Scots, Ulster‑Scots, Welsh, Cornish, Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Manx, French, Jèrriais, Guernésiais, Sercquiais, Auregnais
Additional information
Time zone	Greenwich Mean Time / Western European Time (UTC)
• Summer (DST)	Western European Summer Time[a] (UTC+1)
^ Irish Standard Time in the Republic of Ireland, British Summer Time in the United Kingdom and associated territories.

The Grenadines are an archipelago situated between the islands of Saint Vincent and Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. The islands cover an area of about 83 km² (32 sq mi) and are inhabited by an estimated 16,100 people. Of the approximately 96 island, islets and cays that comprise the Grenadines, only 7 are permanently inhabited.

Sovereignty over the Grenadines is split with the islands spanning north of the latitude 12° 31' 50.N maritime boundary forming the Grenadines Parish of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and those to the south, the Grenadian dependency of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

They are divided between the island nations of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. They lie between the islands of Saint Vincent in the north and Grenada in the south.The islands north of the Martinique Channel belong to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the islands south of the channel belong to Grenada.

The total population of the Grenadine islands within Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is estimated to be 10,234.^[7] The following islands make up the Grenadines Parish:

Carriacou and Petite Martinique is a dependency of Grenada and contains:

• Grenadines Photo Guide from Paradise Islands (non commercial site)

12°44′N 61°21′W / 12.733°N 61.350°W / 12.733; -61.350