The Valley, Anguilla, November 19, 2009 – Grenada’s Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas joined other leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Wednesday evening in paying tribute to Anguilla’s Chief Minister, who is about to retire from politics after almost 30 years.
Mr. Osbourne Fleming, who has served the last 10 as Chief Minister of his country, plans to step down next year.
Anguilla, an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, is an Associate Member of the OECS. Mr. Fleming, Prime Minister Thomas and the other leaders are meeting in Anguilla for the 50th Meeting of the OECS Authority.
The Chief Minister, who was given a miniature replica boat as a token of appreciation, thanked nationals of OECS member-states who have contributed to Anguilla in areas such as nursing, teaching, construction and law enforcement.
Mr. Fleming said his hope is that in his lifetime, Anguilla will become a full-fledged member of the OECS.
“Collectively, as a sub-region, we must stand together or perish apart,’’ he said.
Unity and closer cooperation were echoed by all speakers on the night, including OECS Director General Dr. Len Ishmael, St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas, and Montserrat’s Reuben Meade, who recently was re-elected Chief Minister after being out of the top political job in his country for 13 years.
Prime Minister Douglas, who is also Chairman of the OECS Authority, said the organisation has had some “remarkable achievements,’’ adding that one of the challenges is to now get nationals in the various territories to “develop a deeper appreciation’’ FOR the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.
“We must cease being shy about our achievements,’’ Dr. Douglas said in his opening remarks to the audience who included former Jamaica Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and former Commonwealth Secretary General, Sir Shridath Ramphal. Among other guests were Grenadian journalists Linda Straker, Adrienne Taylor, Lincoln Toro Depradine and Beverly Lewis, who were attending a two-day regional “Media Workshop on OECS Integration.’’
The OECS, since its establishment in 1981, has been on the “right track,’’ said Prime Minister Douglas.
“We have been doing things and we have been doing them right,’’ he said.
Officials of the OECS Secretariat say the meeting, which ends Friday, includes a “packed agenda’’ dealing with issues pertaining to the “imminent establishment of the OECS Economic Union, the region’s strategic responses to the global economic crisis, and regional crime and security.’’
Prime Minister Thomas, who is Chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), is also expected to take a leading role in discussions on climate change. In particular, he will discuss the OECS preparation for a major world summit on climate change to be held in Copenhagen next month.
“The survival of this region is dependent on our resolve to work together, whether it’s the response to the financial crisis, which is also on our agenda, or climate change, which has serious implications for us and our development as small states,” said the Prime Minister, who is accompanied at the Anguilla meeting by Foreign Service Officer, Cyrilla Steele.