CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC -The French Caribbean island of Saint Martin is continuing efforts to join the nine-member Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
The island, located in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 190 miles east of Puerto Rico, wants to become an associate member of the sub-regional grouping with two other French territories, Martinique and Guadeloupe.
A statement Monday from the Castries-based OECS Commission said the President of the Territorial Council of Saint Martin, Louis Mussington, met with OECS Director General, Dr. Didacus Jules, for the latest round of talks concerning Saint Martin’s accession to the OECS.
“The discussions centered around Saint Martin’s accession to the OECS, strengthening its support from sovereign states and neighboring territories. This meeting underscored the benefits for both Saint Martin and the OECS and how an accession would be a pivotal move symbolizing further collaboration and unity in the region,” the statement said.
It noted that accession to the OECS would empower Saint Martin to contribute meaningfully to formulating diplomatic decisions affecting member states. Jules highlighted the cultural, political, and historical similarities between OECS member states, aligning them with the aspirations of Saint Martin’s leadership and people.
“As an associate member of the OECS, Saint Martin would enjoy equal respect as citizens of a region that reveres togetherness and innovation in the way we use our resources and small populations to meet common goals for better societies and lives,” Jules added.
Mussington, in addition to the strategic advantages of accession, spoke of Saint Martin’s commitment to transferring competencies and successes in vital sectors such as education and health, for which they have implemented innovative pilot projects.
He said Saint Martin is dedicated to sharing best practices and contributing substantively to the rest of the OECS, offering many opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange. Through these partnerships, Saint Martin aims to foster deeper collaborations, thereby enriching the collective endeavors of the OECS and its member states.
“As Saint Martin contemplates this transformative journey towards accession to the OECS, it remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the principles of multilateralism. The Territorial Council of Saint Martin and the OECS will announce updates on the accession as plans progress,” the statement added.
The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands.
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