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Statement by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission on the Revocation of United States Visas for Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth of Dominica
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission expresses its full solidarity with the Governments and peoples of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica following the decision by the Government of the United States of America to revoke visa access for certain categories of their citizens.
The OECS acknowledges, with respect, the sovereign right of all states to determine and enforce their immigration and border security policies in accordance with their national laws and security assessments.
At the same time, the Commission believes it is important that such measures be considered within the context of the historically close, cooperative, and mutually beneficial relationship between the Caribbean and the United States – a relationship grounded in shared democratic values, people-to-people ties, and long-standing economic, cultural, and security cooperation.
For decades, Caribbean nationals – including those from Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica – have formed an integral part of the social and economic fabric of the United States.
The Caribbean diaspora has consistently demonstrated itself to be law-abiding, productive, and civically engaged, contributing meaningfully across critical sectors such as healthcare, education, construction, entrepreneurship, the creative industries, and public service.
These contributions have strengthened local communities and reinforced the enduring bonds between our societies.
The OECS further underscores the depth of economic interdependence between the United States and the Eastern Caribbean.
The United States remains a principal trading partner, investor, tourism source market, and development partner for OECS Member States.
These ties are reinforced through continuous diplomatic engagement, private-sector collaboration, and structured dialogue on matters of shared concern, including financial integrity, border security, and transnational risk management.
With specific regard to Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIPs), the OECS notes that its Member States have been actively and constructively engaged in ongoing dialogue with relevant agencies of the United States Government and other international partners.
These engagements have been frank, technical, and solutions-oriented.
Importantly, OECS Member States have made demonstrable progress in strengthening due-diligence systems, enhancing information-sharing, tightening eligibility standards, and – most significantly – advancing the establishment of a regional, independent regulatory authority to ensure consistent oversight, transparency, and compliance with international best practices.
For small island developing states in the Caribbean, CIPs represent one of a very limited set of lawful, non-debt-creating policy instruments available to finance resilience-building, disaster adaptation/recovery, and sustainable development.
These programmes have been deployed responsibly to support critical public investments in infrastructure, education, health systems, renewable energy, and social resilience – areas that directly enhance regional and hemispheric stability.
In this regard, the OECS respectfully urges that consideration be given to the unique vulnerabilities, constrained fiscal space, and limited economic diversification options available to small states in the Western Hemisphere.
A collaborative, consultative approach – grounded in dialogue, proportionality, and shared responsibility – offers the most effective pathway to addressing legitimate concerns while preserving long-standing partnerships.
The OECS Commission reaffirms its commitment to continued engagement with the Government of the United States, including under the current Administration, in a spirit of mutual respect, transparency, and cooperation.
We remain confident that through sustained dialogue and evidence-based collaboration, solutions can be advanced that uphold security objectives while recognizing the developmental realities of small, open economies.
The OECS stands firmly with Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica and reiterates its collective resolve to work with all partners to ensure that the Eastern Caribbean remains a region defined by good governance, international cooperation, and constructive engagement within the Americas.
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Where was the OECS when America invaded Grenada?
Is that a statement from OECS or from the Labour Party Governments Association?
I had no idea that OECS operated or functioned as a unit.
Is that the same OECS grouping that was front and center at the installation of the reelected givernment in St Lucia?
Where was the OECS when a NEW givernment not aligned to the labour parties was swearing in in St Vincent?
Wasn’t or isn’t St Vincent a member of OECS?
Such was the disrespect on the occasion of the swearing in of the reelected givernment in St Lucis that comrade Ralphie of the St Vincent Opposition had a front seat whike the newly elected prime minister was a no show.
Pleade note that he was a no show because he was not invited.
Not because he chose to boycott or abstain.
Not one OECS leader showered solidarity with the new givernment on St Vincent.
His views are not that of the Old Boys Labour Party Club.
So it seems like we invoke regional bodies when it suits our cause.
How can Dominica expect St Vincent to rally around its cause when the Dominican government campaigned to keep the present and new St Vincent government out of office??
Soon and very soon all.if the regional groupings will disintegrate.
That will be totally due to regional leaders’ political greed.
In their quest to maintain power they will invoke the dead, they will summons the leaders of Timboktu to malign opposition forces.
There is no cure for greed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everybody jumping on the bandwagon now wanting their voices to be heard. Couple days ago, it was Antigus and Barbuda and Dominica alone fighting their solo battle. Typical family. Jump in when the melee nearly done.
Is this the same release that came out after Gaston told them there was no need for a statement of is this another one?
Oh. My bad from my comment before.
This one is from the O.E.C.S.
What jokers they are (l.o.l.)
WHAT THE HELL…! …OECS COMMISSIONERS LIVING IN PAST HISTORY: …EXPRESSING INTELLECTUAL SHEER HYPOCRISY…? WHATEVER CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES:
***
***
PAST HISTORY:
OECS COMMISSIONERS: LIVING IN PAST HISTORY.’
***
THE COMPOSITION:
(i) ‘…DR. DIDACUS JULES – :
(ii) …JENNER CAPRICE:
(iii) …DWIGHT LAY:
(iv) …CHAMBERLAIN EMMANUEL
(v) …SISERA SIMON
***
QUESTION:
IN A ‘…1958 WEST INDIAN FEDERATION (WIF) MEETING:
WHAT DID ‘…SIR VERE CORNWALL BIRD’ TELL ‘…TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, DR.ERIC WILLIAMS?’
***
ANSWER:
As small as we are, ‘…ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA WILL NOT BE TREATED LIKE A LITTLE TOBAGO’ [January 3, 1958 – May 31, 1962: Wikipedia].
***
COLLAPSED:
Four (4) years later, the ‘ WIF’ collapsed.
***
This came when ‘…JAMAICA’ pulled out. The then ‘…GREAT WEST INDIAN MATHEMATICIAN, DR. ERIC WILLIAMS,’ subtracting ‘…1’ from ‘…10,’ said it left ‘…0.’
***
fFactually, when the ‘1’ was removed, the ‘0’ stood alone.
***
THAT WAS THE END OF THE DARN FEDERATION [1958-1962].
Every Island left to itself, and under ‘…COLONIAL RULE.’
***
TODAY:
The more ‘…INTELLECT’ some scholars seem to possess, the more they seem to be ‘…EXPRESSING : either
(a) ‘…PAST HISTORY: or
(b) …INTELLECTUAL HYPOCRISY.’
***
These ‘…PRIME MINISTER BROWNE,’ seemed to have now realized.
***
When the hands get into the ‘…LION’S MOUTH,’ some darn how, it had to be pulled out.
***
LUCKILY: …WAR OF WORDS: ..INEVITABILITY OF POSSIBILITIES
***
TWO INEVITABLE POSSIBILITIES.’
Now, from the ‘…ESCALATING WAR OF WORDS: to
(i) …INEVITABLE IRREPARABLE STRAINED RELATIONS: to the
(iii) …INEVITABLE DISINTEGRATION.’
***
These, at this moment, seem more possible with:
(a) ‘…THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM): than of
(b) …THE ORGANIZATION OF THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES (OECS).
***
TO THE ‘OECS,’ THERE EXISTS A ‘…MOST FUNDAMENTAL ECONOMIC ISSUE.’
WHAT IS:
‘…THE FUTURE OF THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN DOLLAR (ECD$)?
***
MONETARY CANDLE:
Said to have been firmly pegged to the ‘…UNITED STATES DOLLAR (US$: EC$ 2.7 to US$1.00),’ has been the ‘…EASTERN CARIBBEAN CURRENCY EXCHANGE.’
***
US-PROVIDED FINANCIAL STABILITY v VENEZUELAN-PROVIDED OIL
***
CARICOM/OECS: BETWEEN: …DEVIL AND SEA
THE GROUPINGS NOW FOUND THEMSELVES ‘…BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND DEEP BLUE SEA:
***
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION:
‘…SHOULD THE REGION BURN ITS MONETARY CANDLE FROM BOTH ENDS TO MEET WITH: ‘…TRUMP AND MADURO IN THE MIDDLE?’
***
MIGHTY SPARROW: …HALF THE TROUBLE:
THAT APPEARS NOT EVEN TO BE ‘…HALF THE TROUBLE:
***
The ‘…Mighty Sparrow,’ was so darn right, singing:
‘…HALF THE TROUBLE IN THE WORLD TODAY:
…COMES FROM PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY:
***
THEY LIKE TO USE WORD THAT THAT IS BIG AND LONG:
AND DON’T KNOW WHEN THEY USING IT WRONG:
***
This happened at his home one ‘…CHRISTMAS DAY.’
***
Sings,Sparrow:
‘…SOME MOPPERS CAME BY ME;
…AND SAID SOME DARN ‘…STUPID THINGS:
…WHEN HE GRABBED THE CUTLASS FROM OFF THE SHELF:
…WELL, AH NEVER SEE SEE DRUNKEN MEN, TAKE OFF SO…’
***
REGIONAL LEADERS SHALL BE CAREFUL WHAT THEY SAY: to
(a) ‘…EACH OTHER:
(b) …DONALD: and
(b) …MADURO,’ or ‘…SUFFER.’
***
REMEMBER:
CHRISTMAS, IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
DON-ALL AND MAD-URO: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA IN THE MIDDLE
DON’T MAKE ‘…DON-ALL’ TEK NAT AH DARN TING ELSE AFF DE SHELF’ (Vernacular}.
***
AND DON’T MAKE ‘… MAD-URO’ CUT OFF SHIPMENT OF OIL.
BUT HEAR THE ‘…OECS COMMISSION ON ‘…SOLIDARITY: …NO CONDEMNATION
(i) ‘…THE ‘OECS COMMISSION’ EXPRESSES ITS SOLIDARITY WITH THE GOVERNMENTS AND PEOPLES OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA AND DOMINICA….’ [Paragraph 2].
***
RESPECTFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
(ii) …The ‘OECS’ ACKNOWLEDGES WITH RESPECT, the sovereignty the right of ‘…ALL STATES’ to determine and enforce their border security policies in accordance: with
(a) ‘…THEIR NATIONAL LAW: and
(b) …SECURITY ASSESSMENTS’ [Paragraph 3].
***
INTELLECTUAL HYPOCRISY
Then the ‘…BRIGHT ‘OECS’ COMMISSIONERS: either
(i) ‘…SEEKING TO HIDE BEHIND INTELLECTUAL HYPOCRISY: or
(ii) …MIXING-UP PAST HISTORY: with
(iii) …CURRENCY OF REALITY:’ they are now saying to ‘…PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP:’
***
REMEMBER:
(a) ‘…THE CLOSE HISTORICAL TIES:
(b) …THE NCOOPERATIVE: and
(c) …MUTUAL BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP: between
(d) …THE CARIBBEAN AND UNITED STATES: a
(e) …A RELATIONSHIP GROUNDED: in
(i) ‘…SHARED DEMOCRATIC VALUES:
(ii) …PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES:
(iii) …LONG STANDING ECONOMIC:
(iv) …CULTURAL: and
(v) …SECURITY COOPERATION.’
WHAT THE HELL…!
***
INTER-GOVERNMENTAL GROUPINGS:
The two regional ”…INTER-GOVERNMENTAL GROUPINGS,’ that shall be most careful, are:
(i) ‘…CARICOM: and
(ii) …OECS.’
Both shall avoid being ‘…PERISHED’ for the sins of others.’
***
TALK GOOD.
***
@Shooter.
Their hypocrisy is wide out in the open for all to see. This “Labor cult” has surely shown who they are.
😂..One just have to laugh with all this word salad coming from these people.
GB excuse in everything, is that he wasn’t aware of it. He wasn’t aware of the Antigua Airways debacle, when a 1000 Africans came illegally to our shores ( he claimed he got duped). He wasn’t aware when millions in car theft was taking place under his very nose.
He wasn’t aware, and claimed he was caught off guard with the plans to pull it’s visa agreement.
This man have a great track record of not ” being aware” of anything important that’s going on in his Island, but he’s highly aware of anyone who criticize his leadership, then is quick to attack them, such as he did with ViV.
Heads should be rolling for all these failures of all these unawareness with this administration, but then again, that’s the dangerous mark with this administration..
They will never take responsibility for not one damn thing, they will prefer blame others of their 12 years ineptitude.