ST.GEORGE’S, GRENADA, MARCH 9th, 2010 _ Grenadians will soon be able to express their opinions on the OECS Economic Union.
A series of public discussions on the issue are scheduled to begin on March 16th and will run to May, at various locations across the country. This is a prerequisite for the establishment of the OECS Economic Union, which will allow for the movement of labor and capital throughout OECS countries.
The public consultation process will begin with the publication of the new draft OECS treaty in the weekend edition of the New Today Newspaper. OECS Heads of Government initialed the document in Basseterre, St. Kitts last December 29th, 2009.
“The OECS Economic Union will help us, as small open economies to work together for the benefit of all our people. It is very important that all voices be heard since every opinion is important,” said Richard Simon, Press Secretary to Prime Minister Tillman Thomas.
The Press Secretary said the region’s survival will be determined by its ability to look past individual differences, to work together in the face of a new world order, characterised by new economic blocks and new trading arrangements.
“It is very important that each person voice their opinion at these meetings because these concerns will be raised at the regional level. We will announce a schedule of events at which the public will be invited to make their voices heard,” the Press Secretary said.
The public is invited to view the new draft OECS treaty at http://www.gov.gd/egov/docs/other/Draft_of_the_New_Treaty.pdf
with a view to making an input when given the opportunity to do so. Interested persons can also submit written responses to oecstreaty@gmail.com .
All responses will be reviewed as part of Grenada’s response to finalizing the treaty before it goes to Parliament in June 2010.
