Further to an August 14^th declaration of intent by Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to enter in an economic union by 2011 and further appropriate levels of political integration by 2013, OECS Heads of Government meeting in Castries St. Lucia on September 11, gave a strong mandate for the OECS, to pursue a political union with Trinidad & Tobago.

The endorsement reportedly came from the leaders of the nine OECS countries - Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St.Vincent and the Grenadines, and the associate member states of Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

Leaders will meet with Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning in St. Kitts on October 31 to discuss the modalities of the initiative.

The declarations of intent by Manning with the OECS, comes at a time when many question the future of  the once heralded CSME (Caricom Single Market and Economy) which despite multiple meetings appears to move further from reality.

Since last month's signing, Trinidad's prime minister has visited a number of regional countries to hold talks with their leaders on the plan.

(BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson).

As seen above, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning (left) called on Prime Minister  Hubert Ingraham of the Bahamas on August 25th,  on one of his many stops around the region.
 

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