East Carib Unites in Uncertain Times
Smaller Caribbean countries agreed this week to deepen their subregional integration process to “sustain the sub-region in times of uncertainty.”

A comuniqué issued from the headquarters of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) after its 42nd meeting in Anguilla Nov 6-8 alerted over the need to bolster uinity among the fragile Caribbean economies.

Acting OECS chair and Santa Lucia prime minister Kenny Anthony said the world economy was more than hostile than ever in the 24 years since the organization was created, and lamented loss of protection for basic regional products like bananas and sugar.

Embittered by massive job losses, the region is taking a hard line with the WTO, and has engaged in stormy debates on banana tariffs, protection quotas and othe rissues with the EU.

The Anguilla meeting decided to urgently meet with the government of Venezuela to “fine tune the Petrocaribe agreement,” a regional oil arrangement that promotes unity and economic benefits among members.

The encounter included ministers or representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Santa Lucia, Anguilla, Granada, Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the British Virgin Islands.