Organs
The OECS Authority consists of Member States represented by their Heads of Government. This body is the highest policy‑making Organ of the OECS and is responsible for general direction and control of the performance of the functions of the Organisation. The Authority has the power to make decisions on all matters within its capability, and may make recommendations and give directives as it deems necessary for the achievement of the purposes of the Organisation and for ensuring the smooth functioning of the Organs of the Organisation. The Authority grants final approval for the conclusion of treaties or other international agreements on behalf of the Organisation and for entering into relationships between the Organisation and other international organizations and third countries.
The chairmanship of the Authority changes every year, rotating alphabetically by country. The OECS Authority meets twice yearly, and from time to time in Special Session as and when required.
The OECS Authority
Council of Ministers
OECS Assembly
The Council of Ministers comprises of appointed Ministers of Government from each Member State and is responsible to the OECS Authority. This body takes appropriate action on any matters referred to it by the OECS Authority and also has the power to make recommendations to the Authority.
The Council of Ministers has responsibility for considering and reporting on recommendations of the OECS Commission for the making of Acts of the organisation, including considering and enacting into Organisation law regulations and other implementing instruments to give effect to the Acts of the Organisation enacted by the OECS Authority.
The OECS Assembly comprises Members who are representatives, of the members of the Parliament and of the members of the Legislatures of the Member States. The OECS Assembly considers and reports to the OECS Authority on any proposal to enact an Act of the Organization, and on any other matter referred to the OECS Assembly by the OECS Authority. The Assembly also reports to the Council of Ministers in the case of any proposal to make Regulations which has been referred to the OECS Assembly.
equired.
Economic Affairs Council
OECS Commission
THE SECRETARIAT
The Economic Affairs Council shall comprise Member States, acting through such Ministers of Government. The functions of the Council are entrusted to it under the Economic Union Protocol.
The OECS Commission is the principal Organ responsible for the general administration of the Organisation. The OECS Commission comprises of the Director-General, who is responsible for the day to day administration of the Organisation, and will convene and preside at meetings of the OECS Commission. The Commission will also include one Commissioner of Ambassadorial rank named by each Member State. This Commissioner will represent the OECS Commission in the Member State.
The OECS Commission’s functions include the provision of Secretariat services to the Organs of the Organisation, including coordinating of meetings of the Organs of the Organisation; and acting on decisions, recommendations or directives approved at such meetings. The OECS Commission will make recommendations to the OECS Authority and the Council of Ministers regarding the formation of Acts and Regulations of the Organisation; and undertake other work and studies, and perform other services relating to the functions of Organisation as required under this Treaty or by the OECS Authority or by any other Organ.
The functions of the Organisation are set out in the Treaty establishing the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, which was signed on 18th June, 1981 in Basseterre, and are coordinated by the Secretariat under the direction and management of the Director General.
The work of the Secretariat is constantly informed by considerations of cost effectiveness in the context of the need to respond to the increasing challenges placed on it, taking into account the limited fiscal capacities of its members. The Secretariat consists of four main Divisions namely: Division of the Office of the Director General, Social and Sustainable Development Division, Corporate Services Division and Economic Affairs Division. These four Divisions oversee the strategic direction of the Organisation, as well as the work of a number of specialised institutions, work units or projects located in six countries - Commonwealth of Dominica, Saint Lucia, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States of America.
In carrying out its mission, the OECS works along with a number of sub-regional and regional agencies and institutions. These include the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat, and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
The chairmanship of the Authority changes every year, rotating alphabetically by country. The OECS Authority meets twice yearly, and from time to time in Special Session as and when required.
Research & Communication Information Services
Communications Unit
The Communication Unit facilitates the timely and effective flow of information to the Secretariat's various stakeholders through OECS Newslink, Press Releases, OECS TV and other such communication medium.
Information Services Unit (ISU)
The Information Services Unit (ISU), which falls under the Research Communications and Information Services of the Director General’s Office of the OECS Secretariat, comprises the Documentation Centre and the Registry - two Departments of the Secretariat concerned with the management of the intellectual assets of the OECS Secretariat and the use of Information as an effective tool for development within the OECS Secretariat and its Member States
Information Technology Unit (ITU)
The Information Technology Unit supports the day to day operations of the OECS Secretariat and supporting units through the maintenance and administration of Information Technology applications and systems. In addition, the ITU manages the intellectual assets of the OECS Secretariat and facilitates the use of Information as an effective tool for development within the OECS Secretariat and its Member States.
Functional Cooperation and Programme Management Unit (FCPMU)
With the need to strategically coordinate and harmonize the functional cooperation and programme management processes of the OECS Secretariat, the Functional Cooperation and Programme Management Unit was established.. The Unit is responsible for ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, quality control, and general oversight of the Secretariat’s programme portfolio and resource mobilization functions.
Internal Audit Unit (IAU)
The Internal Audit Unit provides independent, objective assurance and consulting services that are designed to add value and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations within the OECS Secretariat by bringing a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.
Legal Unit
The Legal Unit provides legal support to the OECS members, the Secretariat and all subsidiary institutions of the Organisation. The work of the Unit includes law reform and harmonization; coordination of Judicial and Legal Reform activities in the OECS; assistance to Member States in respect of the negotiating and adopting of Treaties, and provision of routine legal services to the Organisation and Member States, consistent with the status of the OECS as an International Organisation.
Regional Integration Unit (RIU)
The Regional Integration Unit was created to facilitate the deepening and strengthening of OECS integration by the establishment of a Single Economic and Financial Space among OECS Member States.
Overseas Diplomatic/Technical Missions
The OECS countries are represented overseas by diplomatic and technical missions in Brussels, Geneva, Ottawa, and Puerto Rico whose respective functions are as follows:
The Brussels Mission ensures effective political and diplomatic representation of the OECS in the EU, Belgium and individual European States.
Geneva Technical Mission
The OECS Geneva Technical Mission was established in 2005 to provide OECS member States with more effective representation at the WTO level. The Mission monitors, analyses and reports on developments and submits proposals to committees/councils.