Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) 1
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) 1 : A sub-regional grouping of Eastern Caribbean countries, agreeing to cooperate with each other and to promote unity and solidarity among themselves. It came into being on 18 June 1981 in St. Kitts and Nevis, when they signed the 'Treaty of Basseterre' to that effect. As indicated in the treaty, the specific objectives of the OECS are to: (a) Promote cooperation among the member states and to defend their sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence; (b) Assist the member states in the realization of their obligations and responsibilities to the international community with due regard to the role of international law as a standards of conduct in their relationships; (c) Establish and maintain wherever possible arrangements for joint overseas representation and common services; (d) Promote economic integration among the member states; and (e) Pursue these through its respective institutions by discussion of questions of common concern and by agreement on common action. The functions of the Organization are coordinated by the Secretariat, which is under the direction and management of the Director General. To meet the challenges of a rapidly changing economic environment, the Secretariat was restructured. It consists of four main divisions -External Relations, Functional Cooperation, Corporate Services and Economic Affairs. These oversee the work of a number of specialized institutions, work units or projects located in some of the member states, and the international community. To achieve its mission, the OECS works along with a number of regional and sub-regional agencies and institutions. These include the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB); the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat; the CARICOM Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Its membership comprises Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands are Associate Members
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