Barbados PM wants to deepen cooperation with sub-regional group

Jun 21, 2018 News

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CASTRIES, St. Lucia (CMC) – The Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, has signaled her intention to deepen political and economic cooperation with the nine nation Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
In her first address outside of Barbados since assuming office, Mottley told representatives of the 65th Meeting of the OECS Authority which began its working session here Tuesday, that her administration wanted mutually beneficial solutions to critical issues such as climate change, freedom of movement and transportation challenges.
She told the gathering which included leaders of all nine member OECS states, with the exception of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, who was expected later Tuesday, of the need to resolve climate change issues, pointing to the influx of sargassum seaweed as an opportunity for economic benefit, rather than treating it as a problem that affects our coast and tourism industry.
“We have had to confront it as you do across the rest of the region, but we believe that our best efforts are when they are cooperative, and to that extent our ability to harvest the sargassum weed collectively and maximize whatever economic benefits we can get from it rather than treat it as a nuisance that affects our coasts and tourism industry, is the way in which we would like to pursue discussions.”
She said that freedom of movement was another pressing concern, and finding a way forward for the regional airline LIAT.
She said from her country’s perspective, one of the troubling concerns was the inability of persons who were in-transit in Barbados for more than two hours, to clear immigration.
“It makes no sense, because it hurts the extent to which those who visit our shores are capable of contributing to our economic activity in our country.
“To that extent prior to traveling here, I have asked what are the legal obstacles preventing the movement of people who are in-transit within our air and sea ports, who are being precluded from leaving the ports, but I am yet to receive an answer that makes sense,” she told the leaders.
“If you are at a point of entry for 6 or 8 hours there is no reason to be treated as a prisoner of war within the precincts of our region,” Motley insisted.
On the issue of inter-island transportation the Barbados leader said she looks forward to engaging with the OECS leaders,” and particularly fellow shareholders and soon to be other shareholders in the context of regional carrier, LIAT.”
She however noted that she would do so, cognizant of the fact that modalities that were relevant decades ago cannot continue to be relevant as countries enter the third decade of the 21st Century.
Motley suggested that a review of government structures was absolutely critical if the region is to ensure the viability of an airline that serves as the lifeblood of this region.
“Similarly it is time that we stopped just talking about inter-island ferry transportation and get on with establishing this vital service.
“I am aware that unless we get to the stage where we can facilitate the movement of not just people, but vehicles and cargo we will not reap the full benefit of the space we have the honour to occupy.”
She explained to facilitate such an undertaking when it comes there needed to be mutual recognition of insurance, licenses, and the equal ability for the region to see how far it is prepared to go for mutual recognition of domestic incorporation, “so as we don’t impose on citizens the additional cost and time of having to go through these exercises again, simply to facilitate free movement across the region.”
Meanwhile, Mottley and the heads of Governments of the OECS were also meeting Tuesday in caucus for dialogue on better ways of collaboration between Barbados and the OECS.
The agenda for the 65th Meeting includes critical areas related to climate change among them the problem of sargassum where the OECS hopes to initiate a regional approach.
“We are going to be discussing ways in which the member states can work effectively together to do clean-ups of the beaches and areas affected by sargassum but more importantly how do we turn this problem into an opportunity,” said OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules told journalists Monday.
He said building resilience in the Caribbean is also high on the agenda in terms of, not just infrastructure but economic, social and community resilience.
A presentation is expected by the Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator Group which has been assisting the Caribbean in becoming the first climate smart region. During the OECS meeting, the work programme of the OECS will also be under review.
St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Allan Chastanet will hand over to incoming chairman, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.
The OECS is made up of seven full Member States, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts Nevis, St Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and three Associate Member States: the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Martinique, all of whom are expected to be represented at the summit.

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