The Organization includes a number of affiliated regional institutions, each carrying out specialized work to fulfil the objectives of the OECS Treaty.
Institutes
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank is the Monetary Authority for the Eastern Caribbean countries of Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent & The Grenadines. The ECCB issues the Eastern Caribbean Dollar and maintains its stability and oversees the banking system in the OECS states. The Bank is governed by a Monetary Council and a Board of Directors and is managed by a Governor. Formed in 1983 and based in St. Kitts and Nevis, it replaced the Eastern Caribbean Currency Authority.
The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) evolved from the Directorate of Civil Aviation - Eastern Caribbean States, which may be considered as one of the oldest, if not the oldest institutions in the Eastern Caribbean region. From inception, the Directorate was seen as a vehicle for facilitating a collective and uniform approach to Civil Aviation matters affecting the then Windward and Leeward Islands, which now comprise the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Group.
A Director of Civil Aviation was first appointed in 1957 by the Government of the United Kingdom. In 1961, the responsibilities of the post were advertised as "to advise the Governments of the Windward and Leeward Islands on all matters relating to Civil Aviation including airfields and airport developments, the implementation of ICAO conventions and the adequacy of air services."
Dissolution of the West Indies Federation in 1962 and reversion of the islands to the former colonial status meant that the Directorate was again exercising the functions on behalf of the UK Government.
Administration of the Directorate was assigned to the Antigua and Barbuda government until 1968 when the West Indies Associate States (WISA) Council of Ministers assumed responsibility for its operation.
In 1982, the Directorate became an Institution of the OECS through the Treaty of Basseterre, which established the OECS.
At the 35th Meeting of the OECS Heads of Governments, in 2002, the Heads decided that:
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" a fully autonomous body should be established with the responsibility to regulate civil aviation activities within OECS Member States; and,
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" the body should be self-financed
Acting upon this mandate, in October 2003 at St Georges, Grenada, the OECS Ministers responsible for civil aviation signed the Agreement establishing ECCAA; however, this agreement had to be given legal effect through an act of Parliament in each Member State.
By October 2004, five Member States had passed the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority Agreement Act, which signaled the ECCAA's birth.
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court was established in 1967 by the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court Order No. 223 of 1967. It is a superior court of record for nine Member States, six independent namely, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and three British Overseas Territories namely, Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat.
FUNCTIONS & POWERS
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court has unlimited jurisdiction in the Member States, in accordance with the respective Supreme Court Acts. Section 17 of the Courts Order empowers the Chief Justice and two judges of the Supreme Court, selected by the Chief Justice, to make rules of court for regulating the practice and procedure of the Court of Appeal and the High Court. Also,National Legislation in the countries served by the Court confersrule-making authority on the Chief Justice in relation to matters outside the Court of Appeal and the High Court.
COMPOSITION
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is composed of the Chief Justice, who is the Head of the Judiciary, three (3) Justices of Appeal, thirteen (13) High Court Judges and two (2) Masters. Judicial appointments except that of the Chief Justice, who is appointed by Her Majesty, are made by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission
To qualify for appointment as a Justice of Appeal, a person must be or have been a judge of a court of unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from such court for an aggregate of at least five years, or a person who is qualified to practise as an advocate in such a court and has so practised for an aggregate of at least fifteen years.
To qualify for appointment as a High Court Judge, a person must be or have been a judge of a court of unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from such court, or a person who is qualified to practise as an advocate in such a court and has so practised for an aggregate of at least ten years.
To qualify for appointment as a Master, a person must be qualified to practise as an advocate and has so practised for an aggregate of at least ten years in a court of unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from such court.
COURT SITTINGS
The Court sits in two divisions: the Court of Appeal and the High Court of Justice – Trial Division. The four member Court of Appeal is itinerant and sits in each member state to hear appeals. There are thirteen High Court Judges who are assigned as resident Judges in the various member states. The Trial Courts sit throughout the year. Criminal Assizes convene in each jurisdiction on dates specified by statute.
The Court of Appeal hears appeals from the decisions of the High Court and Magistrates’ Courts in member states in both the Civil and the Criminal matters. The Court of Appeal also hears appeals from the Industrial Court in Antigua and Barbuda and the Administrative Tribunals in the British Virgin Islands and Montserrat. Appeals are heard by a Full Court comprising three Justices of Appeal or by a single Justice of Appeal in Chambers.
EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT – HIGH COURT
Each Member Territory has its own High Court which in addition to the High Court Registry houses the Office of the local High Court Judge. The High Court Registry is headed by a legally-trained Registrar who provides the necessary administrative and legal support for the functioning of the High Court. Filing in the Registries commences the proceedings in matters before the High Court in each of the nine territories.