Secretary General Dr Didacus Jules hoped to have seen more OECS integration progress over 36 years

​Secretary General Dr Didacus Jules appeared to have hoped for more OECS integration progress over the past 36 years, during his remarks to commemorate the occasion today. He said, by the Grace of God, we are celebrating 36 years since the formation of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. But even as we give thanks for the many blessings and accomplishments, we equally acknowledge the several shortcomings and weaknesses of our effort to date.
 
In today’s fast paced world, small and vulnerable countries such as ours face an uphill and relentless battle against more powerful forces which conspire to keep us marginalized and at the bottom of the international food chain. The intensity of the global competition for advantage can sometimes lead us to seek individual and independent solutions but the mathematical reality of that situation should compel us to work together and to fight together in order to win together.
 
The aspiration to regional integration has been a long historical struggle with shining moments of solidarity and with disappointing examples of fracture. Too often our best emerges only when we are faced with the worst and we are yet to understand that while adversity might provoke the spirit of resistance; it is the will to excel that will fuel the spirit of resilience. Let us take pride in the accomplishments that we have achieved; some of which have almost invisibly improved our daily lives.
 
As we enter the 36th year of aspiration towards a single social and economic space, the acceleration of effort is going to be our primary objective. There are many things that we need to do which are best done together with the wider fraternity of CARICOM, and we will be seeking to forge closer and deeper collaboration to achieve them.