{"id":241324,"date":"2025-06-25T12:14:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T16:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=241324"},"modified":"2025-06-25T15:05:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T19:05:10","slug":"antigua-and-barbuda-reaffirms-commitment-to-oecs-integration-at-7th-assembly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/antigua-and-barbuda-reaffirms-commitment-to-oecs-integration-at-7th-assembly\/","title":{"rendered":"Antigua and Barbuda Reaffirms Commitment to OECS Integration at 7th Assembly"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The OECS Free Circulation of Goods and the Road to Deeper Integration: Both Priorities at the 7th OECS Assembly Sitting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SOURCE: PRESSROOM- <\/strong>The\u00a07th Sitting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Assembly<\/strong>\u00a0was a notable occasion marking several firsts.<\/p>

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The Sitting took place at the New Temporary Parliament Building in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on June 17, 2025. <\/p>

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The OECS <\/a><\/strong>Assembly is a regional parliament consisting of representative parliamentarians from all OECS Member States, both government and opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This marked the first time that the OECS Assembly was held outside of its headquarters in Antigua and Barbuda, for a one-time sitting in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.<\/p>

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The Sitting began with members electing the Honourable Rene M. Baptiste of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Honourable Samantha Marshall of Antigua and Barbuda as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the OECS <\/a><\/strong>Assembly, respectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two newly elected officers were congratulated and commended for their contributions to the integration of the region.<\/p>

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Under the theme\u00a0Strengthening Regional Unity in a Shifting Global Order<\/strong><\/em>, the\u00a0OECS Free Circulation of Goods Bills\u00a0<\/strong>were debated.<\/p>

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These Bills represent represent a major step forward towards operationalising the OECS customs union, which is provided for in the Protocol of Eastern Caribbean Economic Union, as articulated in the Revised Treaty of Basseterre of 2010. The\u00a0Free Circulation of Goods Bills\u00a0<\/strong>include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n