OECS 40th Anniversary: "Onward with Regional Integration for Progress and Sustainability in the Eastern Caribbean"
OECS 40th Anniversary
This year marks four decades of advancing regional integration in the Eastern Caribbean region. The 40th Anniversary of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States gives an opportunity to all citizens of the OECS to ackowledge some of the key achievements made towards one main objective: forging one community growing together for improved lives and a better future.
Major milestones were passed in 40 years of regional integration in the Eastern Caribbean in multiple areas including education, health, social development, free movement of people and goods, trade, environmental sustainability, and cooperation among others.
A series of events will be implemented as part of the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the OECS.
Calendar of Events of the 40th Anniversary of the OECS
A series of events will be hosted as part of the celebration of four decades of regional integration in the Eastern Caribbean. The calendar of events of the 40th Anniversary of the OECS includes ten major activities.
OECS 40TH ANNIVERSARY
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
EVENT
DATE & TIME
Official Launch
March 15 2021, 10 am
OECS Public Sector Consultation
June 15 2021, 11 am
Supporting Micro, Small and Medium
Sized Enterprises (MSME’s) in the OECS
Economic Union - Webinar Series
June 30 2021, 2 pm
Development Partners Symposium
June 17 2021, 10 am
OECS Staff Awards
July 3 2021, 6 pm
Thanksgiving Service
June 13 2021, 9:30 am
OECS Youth Assembly Launch
August 2021
OECS Community Support Initiative
(Handover Ceremony)
July 14 2021, 10 am
OECS 40th Anniversary Che Campeche
Production “OECS for me”
Online Premiers:
OECS YouTube
Channel:
June 5 2021, 7 pm
(Kweyol)
June 12 2021, 7 pm
(English)
OECS Facebook:
June 6 2021, 3 pm
(Kweyol)
June 13 2021, 3 pm
(English)
OECS Teachers Resource Book Launch -
Building Together: A Guide to Regional
Integration in the OECS
June 25 2021
Co-funded by the European Union
EVENT OVERVIEW
•
OECS 40th Anniversary Official Launch
The 40th Anniversary launch will present a keynote address by the OECS
Chairman, an address by the OECS Director General, the unveiling of the 40th
anniversary logo and theme, the calendar of events and a presentation of the
main anniversary event. The Launch will be streamed live on the OECS
Facebook and YouTube page.
•
Thanksgiving Service
Representatives from various religious persuasions will congregate to give
thanks for the prosperity of OECS integration in the form of an ecumenical
service. The service will feature musical renditions, prayers for the OECS,
individual counties of the OECS and The Spoken Word. The service will be
streamed live on the OECS Facebook and YouTube page.
•
OECS Public Sector Consultations
The public sector is a key stakeholder of the OECS Commission. Special
sectoral consultations will be held for public sector officials in celebration of
the 40th Anniversary. These consultations will feature a keynote presentation
on OECS sectoral deliverables and initiatives undertaken over 40 years of
development partnerships. The consultations will also feature a presentation
on the state of the union, OECS integration milestone achievements, plans for
a sustainable future and a question-and-answer segment.
•
OECS Virtual Schools Book Launch
In celebration of the OECS 40th Anniversary the OECS Commission has
published a special student handbook featuring OECS integration. The newly
designed OECS Regional Integration Resource Booklet seeks to raise
awareness on the OECS and the many benefits of regional integration
amongst secondary school students throughout the region. In a fully
illustrated and easy to read format, the booklet also identifies lessons for
teachers. The Resource Booklet was co-funded by the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Eastern Caribbean Office, in partnership with the
OECS Commission.
•
Supporting Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSME’s) in the
OECS Economic Union - Webinar Series
A series of webinars to observe and build awareness on the role of MSMEs in
the sustainable economic development of the OECS, and the role of the OECS
Commission in supporting their development. Specifically, these webinars will
seek to foster policy discussions on key issues confronting MSMEs in the OECS,
examine the current situation of MSMEs contribution to the development
goals of the OECS; and seek to envision the future of MSMEs in the OECS. The
series will feature research presentations and business owner testimonials.
This activity will coincide with the United Nation designated MSME Day
recognised annually on June 27.
•
OECS Youth Assembly Launch
The OECS Youth Assembly will bring together two outstanding young people
from every OECS Member State, to discuss issues of relevance to OECS Youth,
through the lens of the OECS Youth Strategy. The Assembly will formally
accept the OECS Youth Strategy as the principal document guiding youth
development interventions in the OECS region.
•
OECS 40th Anniversary Che Campeche Production “OECS for me”
The OECS 40th Anniversary “OECS for me” comedy drama, featuring the
renowned Che Campeche theatrical production team, will highlighting key
stages of the Eastern Caribbean integration and its impact on the lives of
everyday people living in the OECS Region. The overall objective of this
project is to increase awareness of the OECS Economic Union and the wider
OECS integration movement. The project also aims to highlight some of the
key deliverables of the OECS Commission, OECS Institutions and orgnaisation
(namely, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme
Court, the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority and the Eastern
Caribbean Telecommunication Authority). The production is intended to
provide information and answers questions commonly asked about the
Organisation, for e.g., What is the OECS? How do people in the OECS benefit
from regional integration? The two-hour production will be aired in Kweyol
and English and premiered via the OECS YouTube and Facebook page. The
production will also be premiered on television via respective Government
Information Service Channels in the OECS.
•
OECS Staff Awards
The staff of the OECS Commission will gather virtually to celebrate those
among us who have toiled the longest alongside the Commission, who
consistently exhibit our Team Beliefs (Decide Courageously, Win Together, Be
the Change, Walk the Talk, Sign your Name) and demonstrate the spirit of the
OECS. The event will feature local and regional artists, poetry, competitions,
and surprises. Staff will get an opportunity to cast their vote, bid for prizes and
most importantly, have fun together.
•
OECS Community Support Initiative (Handover Ceremony)
This special corporate social initiative aims to support the OECS Commission’s
local community. Devices will be donated to schools and students to enable
them to benefit from online learning, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
impact, forcing closure and interruption of face-to-face learning.
•
OECS Virtual Schools Book Launch
In celebration of the OECS 40th Anniversary the OECS Commission has
published a special student handbook featuring OECS integration. The newly
designed OECS Regional Integration Resource Booklet seeks to raise
awareness on the OECS and the many benefits of regional integration
amongst secondary school students throughout the region. In a fully
illustrated and easy to read format, the booklet also identifies lessons for
teachers. The Resource Booklet was co-funded by the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Eastern Caribbean Office, in partnership with the
OECS Commission.
•
Development Partners Symposium
This virtual event will engage all OECS development and private sector
partners. The event will feature a special presentation highlighting the 40
years of collaborative partnerships, instrumental to pushing the OECS
Integration agenda forward. A panel discussion on the integrated approach for
sustainable development and progress in the OECS will form part of the
agenda.
Key achievements of 40 years of Regional Integration in the Eastern Caribbean
On June 18, 1981, the representatives of the Governments of the WISA Council signed the Treaty of Basseterre establishing the successor to the Council - the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Since then, the OECS along with multiple regional and international partners have mobilized efforts to advance regional integration in the Eastern Caribbean which resulted in major key achievements as follows:
2001
The OECS Member States decide to deepen the process of regional integration in the Eastern Caribbean when they agree to form an economic union under what is known as the Revised Treaty of Basseterre.
2001
June 2010
The Revised Treaty of Basseterre establishing the economic union is signed on the 18th June.
2011
The Revised Treaty of Basseterre comes into force on the 21st January, effectively operationalizing the economic union for better socio-economic outcomes for all citizens of the OECS. The countries of this economic union continue to adopt a common approach to trade, health, education and the environment, agriculture, tourism and energy among other areas.
2011
February 2015
for the first time a French-speaking territory - Martinique, becomes Associate Member of the OECS. This accession reflects a major step forward to deepening the cooperation with French neighbouring territories and advancing regional integration in the Eastern Caribbean.
October 2018
The Embassies of Eastern Caribbean States to the Kingdom of Morocco is created in Rabat.
October 2018
March 2019
Guadeloupe becomes Associate Member of the OECS.
July 2019
Ambassador Ian Queeley is appointed to the Embassies of Eastern Caribbean States to the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat.
July 2019
Our partners for the 40th Anniversary of the OECS
The OECS has partnered with multiple regional and international agencies who support the activities being implemented as part of the 40th Anniversary.
Learn more about the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) and the R.I.G.H.T Project.
User Contact the OECS 40th Anniversary Committee
All activities hosted as part of the 40th Anniversary of the OECS are coordinated by the 40th Anniversary Committee.
For more information contact:
