Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

Overview

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is an intergovernmental regional organization that fosters economic integration, trade cooperation, and shared policy across member states in the Eastern Caribbean. It functions as an economic union and single market, promoting free movement of goods, services, people, and capital among its members.

History

The OECS was founded when seven states signed the Treaty of Basseterre on June 18, 1981. The treaty was revised in 2010 to strengthen the economic union by reducing trade and customs barriers and deepening cooperation on monetary, fiscal, and social policies.

Membership

The OECS comprises 11 members divided into protocol members and associate members.

Protocol members (full economic-union rights):
* Antigua and Barbuda
* Commonwealth of Dominica
* Grenada
* Montserrat
* St. Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucia
* St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Associate members:
* Anguilla
* British Virgin Islands
* Martinique
* Guadeloupe

Geographically these members lie mostly along the Lesser Antilles archipelago.

Currency and Monetary Arrangements

• Eight OECS members share the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD): Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) is the monetary authority for these members.
• The British Virgin Islands use the United States dollar (USD).
• Martinique and Guadeloupe, as French overseas departments, use the euro (EUR).

Institutions and Regulatory Bodies

Key regional institutions supporting integration and governance include:
* Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) — monetary policy and XCD management.
* Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court — regional judiciary.
* Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority — aviation oversight.
* Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority — sector regulation.

Relationship with CARICOM

All protocol members of the OECS are also members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and participate in the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME). OECS policies and initiatives are coordinated to align with members’ commitments within CARICOM/CSME. Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands are associate members of CARICOM.

Benefits of Membership

• Free movement: Citizens of protocol members can travel, live, and work across protocol states without restriction. Accepted identity documents include a passport, driver’s license, national ID, voter registration card, or social security card.
• Single market advantages: Reduced customs barriers, harmonized trade and regulatory frameworks, and coordinated policies in areas such as health, education, environment, agriculture, tourism, and energy.
• Shared institutions: Collective monetary, judicial, transportation, and telecommunications frameworks that support economic stability and cooperation.

Key Takeaways

• The OECS is an economic union of 11 Eastern Caribbean members promoting integration and free movement.
• It was established by the Treaty of Basseterre (1981) and reinforced as an economic union in 2010.
• Eight members share the Eastern Caribbean dollar under the ECCB; others use USD or EUR.
• The OECS coordinates closely with CARICOM and operates regional institutions for finance, justice, aviation, and telecommunications.