Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) leaders, Monetary Council zero in on international economic crisis

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas is leading a seven-member Federation’s delegation to a meeting of OECS Heads of Government and the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).

Leaders of the nine-member Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) grouping will meet at the ECCB Headquarters in Basseterre, the St. Kitts capital to discuss the current global economic challenges and possible responses by the sub region.

Thursday’s special joint meeting of OECS Authority, which is the highest decision-making body of the grouping, and the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank is expected to zero in on the impact of the global situation on the all-important tourism sector.

The leaders will have before them a paper prepared by the OECS Secretariat articulating the issues confronting the sector.

The paper will also identify the steps being taken in the respective member states to address the challenges and will suggest measures that could be employed to assist the region’s biggest foreign exchange earner.

Other members of the St. Kitts and Nevis delegation are Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris; Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry; Financial Secretary, Mrs. Janet Harris; St. Kitts and Nevis Ambassador to the OECS, His Excellency Mr. Wendell Lawrence; cabinet Secretary in the Nevis Island Administration, Mr. Ashley Farrell and Administrative Cadet in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Crios Freeman.