Promoting OECS Policy Development through a Research Focus Lens

A Regional Research Symposium was successfully convened through a collaboration between the Commission of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Research and Policy Unit of Saint Lucia's Department of Finance in the Ministry of Commerce. The two-day Regional Research Symposium was held at the Financial Center between October 28 and 29, 2024, and forms part of the OECS Commission’s broader effort to foster a culture of research toward problem-solving within the region. 

The two-day Symposium — which was also open to virtual participation— explored a plethora of topics that will inform economic policy formulation and regional initiatives that support economic development. The range of topics addressed by this symposium included new perspectives on development, labour market issues, inflation and cost of living, law and order and renewable energies.

Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the OECS to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva, H.E. Colin Murdoch, delivered the keynote address to begin the Symposium. He discussed the global challenges facing OECS economies, and their unique nature. After advocating for positions that could promote economic development in the region, Ambassador Murdoch said, 

“The OECS stands at a crossroads. Our unique position makes us vulnerable to numerous challenges. But it also endows us with remarkable resilience and potential. By addressing geographic isolation, enhancing climate resilience, diversifying economies, and improving access to finance, we can create a foundation for sustainable growth and development.”

The OECS was the main partner of the Symposium, with several specialists and experts leading seminars, presenting key data and regional strategies:

Multidimensional measures of development

Dr. Clarence Henry (Head (Ag.), Regional Integration Unit, OECS Commission) and Dr. Roxanne Brizan St Martin (Programme Director, Health, Social Inclusion & Social Protection, OECS Commission) 

The OECS’s regional development agenda

Mr. James McDonald (Economist, OECS Commission)

Globalisation and de-globalisation, the implications for the OECS

Mr. Nicholas Thomas, Attaché, OECS Geneva Mission ​ 

To view recordings of any session of the Symposium, they are available on the Saint Lucia Department of Finance Facebook page. 

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