BUSINESS BRIEFS
capital move freely, monetary and fiscal policies are harmonized and countries continue to adopt a common approach to trade, health, education and environment, as well as to the development of such critical sectors as agriculture, tourism and energy.
The OECS member states are Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Associate members are Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.
ANTIGUA PARTICIPATES IN REGIONAL FISHERIES WORKSHOP
Deputy Chief Fisheries Officer Philmore James of the Fisheries Division attended the Third Regional Fisheries Programme Monitoring and Training Workshop in Jamaica, in November.
He joined 14 other CARIFORUM representatives at the highest level of government and other fisheries with a view to highlight the objectives and benefits of the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy.
The four-day workshop formed part of a larger global project to strengthen fisheries management, improve food security and alleviate poverty in 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) member states.
According to ACP Fish II Programme Regional Manager for the Caribbean Sandra Grant, the initiative “is a four and a half year, EUR€30 million programme funded by the European Union through the EDF. It has been formulated to design and develop planning and management capacities in ACP countries.” The programme supports five distinct areas where gaps have been identified.
Grant said in addition to improving plans and policies at the regional and national levels, Fish II will also see results such as reinforcing the region’s control and enforcement capabilities; reinforcing research strategies and initiatives as well as developing business supportive regulatory framework and increasing knowledge sharing at all levels in the sector. The programme will also result in improved legislation and management documents with Caribbean countries also being able to boost their surveillance systems.
6 | BusinessFocus • December/January 11/12 LOWER HOUSE OF
PARLIAMENT PASSES THE REVISED TREATY OF BASSETERRE
The Lower House of Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda passed the Revised Treaty of Basseterre establishing The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Economic Union Act, 2011. The Revised Treaty of Basseterre creates a single economic and financial space covering the OECS and paves the way for further integration.
Prime Minister Dr the Hon Baldwin Spencer told the Lower House the OECS will eventually create a single political space in the OECS, “
...and so what we are doing here today, we are part of a fundamental, historical development of Herculean proportions.”
The Prime Minister added that if the agreements works in the anticipated way, then it was not just a question of us collaborating and working more on the economic front, “but inherent in this is the ultimate goal of integrating the OECS politically as well. That is the ultimate goal.”
Prime Minister Spencer pointed out the OECS is already collaborating in areas of functional co-operation such as civil aviation, the currency union, education, the judiciary, telecommunications and pharmaceutical procurement.
Antigua and Barbuda signed the Revised OECS Treaty of Basseterre on June 18, 2010 and was the first member state to ratify it.
The Revised Treaty establishes the OECS economic union, making possible the creation of a single financial and economic space within which goods, people and
APUA… ”NECESSARY FOR LIFE”
The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) has rebranded its three business units; water, electricity and telecommunications, under a new slogan “Necessary… For Life”.
The rebranding exercise includes a new corporate logo and new logos for each unit. The APUA Corporate Logo was inspired by the colours of the Antiguan flag. Each colour represents one of the business units which are all interconnected into one design emphasizing that although offering different services they are all part of the APUA family. The tagline ‘Necessary…For Life’ represents the fact that APUA is part of the fabric of Antiguan life.
Among the changes will be online billing, which will be available to the public in the near future. Customers would receive electricity, water and inet bills online eliminating having to receive a paper bill. They will also be able to manage their accounts and track their consumption habits.
This rebranding comes months after the rebranding of APUA PCS to imobile and according to General Manager Esworth Martin was an expensive venture, for which training started in 2007.
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