Canada-OECS Relations

Diplomatic Relations

Canada and the countries that make up the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have long enjoyed a close relationship due to Canada's significant population of Canadians of Eastern Caribbean origin, commercial links, and a history of Canadian aid and support for the region. Canada's relations with the six independent countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines), the three independent British Overseas Territories (Anguilla, British Virgin Islands and Montserrat) and St. Marten are conducted from the Canadian High Commission in Barbados, which was opened in 1967.

Key Issues

• Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program :
  The OECS provides workers for Canada's Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program, which aides Eastern Caribbean countries by providing employm ent and generating foreign exchange.

• St. Kitts and Nevis Referendum :
  In July 2003 Premier Armory presented a bill on secession to the Nevis Assembly calling for an eventual referendum on the separation of Nevis from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. A previous Armory-led referendum in 1998 fell just 3% short of getting the required two-thirds majority.

• New Heads of Government :
  Both Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica welcomed new Prime Ministers in 2004. Dominica=s Roosevelt Skerrit replaced Pierre Charles as Prime Minister in January after the latter succumbed to a heart attack. In Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer entered office after a landslide victory in March.

• Economic Challenges :
  Many of the OECS's member countries are going through a period of deficit spending, high debt and low economic growth.

Trade and Investment

The six independent OECS countries are members of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM). All OECS countries benefit from CARIBCAN, Canada's one-way preferential trade agreement with the Commonwealth Caribbean, under which 96% of the region's exports to Canada enter duty free.

April 2005