Dominica: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit attended the 7th Sitting of the OECS Assembly on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 and participated in the 77th Meeting of the OECS Authority on June 18, held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
At the OECS Assembly, he made presence with the parliamentarians Cassanni Laville, Roland Royer, Dr. Cassandra Williams, and Anthony Charles. The Assembly is being held under the theme, ‘Strengthening Regional Unity in a Shifting Global Order’.
On June 18, the Heads of Government meeting is ready to address key matters including free movement and the legislative framework for implementation, and the impact of global trade and economic policies on OECS Member States.
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves to Assume Chairmanship of OECS Authority
During the session, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, will assume the chairmanship of the OECS Authority. The Ambassador to the OECS and CARICOM – Dr. Gerard Jean-Jacques and Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister – Missi Henderson, are also participating in the meeting.
PM Skerrit: We are leaders of individual islands
At the Assembly, PM Skerrit addressed the gathering and emphasized that all the leaders believe that they are the Prime Ministers’ of an individual continent and asserted that for the OECS to attain genuine integration, it is imperative for countries to divest some of their national sovereignty.
PM Skerrit stated that he was in favour of transferring certain elements of the Commonwealth of Dominica, for national sovereignty to the centre to facilitate integration within the sub-region.
He said that if they are going to be able to deal with these issues, then they must stay prepared to move towards a political union or some of them.
Whereas the reality is, every one of them in the room believes that they are prime ministers or premiers of a continent, an individual continent, and that they want to hold tightly to which they have inherited or managed on behalf of the Crown, and they do not want to divest any of these things.
So, they have to be prepared to move to the route of political union, which should now usher in a divestment of some of the constitutional authorities.
Skerrit further added that when members of Parliament meet, it is not a tea party but to discuss serious matters affecting the lives of their citizens. For the OECS to reach that point, the pre-requisites must be put in place.
However, countries have to divest some of their national authorities to the Centre if they are serious about achieving some of the objectives that are being spoken of.
He suggested to the colleagues that they set a time when they can discuss this matter and decide whether they have gotten to a state of maturity.
In the absence of Prime Minister Skerrit, the Minister for Tourism – Denise Charles-Pemberton will serve as Acting Prime Minister.