A luncheon discussion on the Treaty of Basseterre planned for October 30th, 2012 is expected to raise public awareness on the revised treaty which will come into full effect in July 2013.
The Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Sir K. Dwight Venner is expected to present at the special luncheon discussion scheduled to take place at the Fort Young Hotel.
Resident Representative of the ECCB, Edmund Robinson made the announcement at a press conference on Monday saying that the discussion the revised treaty is timely. Robinson has extended an invitation to the General public has been invited to participate in the important meeting.
“Those of you who have not heard I think it’s important to get some more information on the Treaty of Basseterre because it comes to effect on the July 01st 2013. It has implications for us in terms of the movement of goods and services between the islands and so therefore we need to find out to what extent it will affect our businesses and our livelihood in Dominica,” noted Robinson.
A Revised Treaty of Basseterre to establish the OECS Economic Union was ratified on 18th June 2010. To date, the OECS has maintained the schedule outlined for implementation of the Economic Union.
Most Member States have enacted or are in the process of enacting all domestic legislation required to give effect to the Revised Treaty.
All actions necessary to give full effect to the free movement of people regime was completed by August 1st 2011.
OECS citizens now enjoy full free movement throughout the six independent Member States of the OECS, such that they are able to enter an OECS Member State and remain for an indefinite period in order to work, establish businesses, provide services or reside.
The OECS Authority has also agreed to an operational start date of June 1st 2013 for the free circulation of goods within the Economic Union and has approved the main components of a new structure for the OECS Secretariat to become the OECS Commission.