OECS flag

	T&T flag

Leaders of the OECS and Trinidad & Tobago meet in October to hammer out details of how their planned union could/should work.

There's already agreement between the two sides to pursue this goal.

Will Trinidad and the OECS need a new flag - and a new national anthem?

And that's only the beginning.

What will it take to make an economic, and ultimately a political union of the OECS and Trinidad and Tobago work?

Former St Vincent & the Grenadines prime minister, Sir James Mitchell, has some ideas.

Listen to Sir James's views

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Do you agree?
How do you think this 'union' could (or should) work?

I know that will work. People, if we look at ourselves as one body of people standing together; united we stand divided, we fall together. We aspire together to achieve, to accomplish this goal. This is another chance we have here. What will we do? Don't matter how we all may say this or that even I myself. I guess some leaders still want to keep the people down and have them suffering and killing each other for their political power. Please y'all let's all come together.
Raskebre
Brooklyn, USA

This is all about Patrick Manning’s medium-term strategy to gain Afro-Caribbean voters to support his PNM constituency.
Labour market and political integration makes no sense for the Caribbean.
Efraim Archer
Toronto, Canada

Read the comments here and it seems to me the Jamaicans writing here all have the same view, "what does Trinidad have to gain from the Union?" I think that is exactly why the West Indies Federation failed, some countries feeling that they had more to offer than other countries.
Jay
Basseterre, St. Kitts

People of the Caribbean wake up and look around. Unity always represents strength. A house divided among itself cannot stand. Look around Europe is bringing its communities together. The United States is bringing its northern and southern neighbours together in a free trade agreement and ultimately in a stronger union. Chavez has started the ball in bringing South America together. Brothers and siters of the Caribbean have eyes to see and ears to hear before it is too late. Let us not allow greed and selfishness to keep us apart.
Wavell Munro
Orlando, USA

This so called Union between Trinidad and the rest of the OECS islands is no doubt dead on arrival.
Frankly, without the people’s participation and willingness to enter into a union, there shall be no such thing.
It's about time that Caribbean politicians understand and accept this!
Therold Prudent
New York, USA

This sort of thinking and mindset has held back any real and deeper integration in the region. Trinidad is awash with oil and gas money, but is plagued with a rising crime and racial problem. Conversely, the OECS is financially not as well of as Trinidad, but from a crime standpoint more secure. For this reason, both Trinidad and the OECS can benefit from such an initiative. Trinidadians should keep in mind that their do not have infinite oil and gas deposits, and by all accounts the windfall from the prevailing high energy prices have not trickle down to the average Trinidadian. Possibly, a political union can facilitate the distribution of the oil and gas wealth to the average person.
Anthony Stephen
Castries, St Lucia

To the naysayers who continue to dampen the spirit of the ideas of integration, I say to you STOP killing the messenger, listen for the message. What are you going to leave your children as a legacy, since Dr. Eric Williams and Dr. Errol Barrows time we have talked and talked about the need to unify our intellectual capital and economic infrastructures to maximize our resources and provide a stronger political front on the world stage. Trinidad and Tobago does not need any other island, it is commendable that Dr. Manning in his wisdom foresees the need for us to band together, we can dissect his motives later. He could easily reach out to his nearest neighbour and develop his nations OIL and other resources and fill his treasury instead he shares our interest and culture and is reaching out to a collective US. United we stand or DIVIDED we WILL fall.
Cecil Sealy
St Michael, Barbados

So instant wealth due to ballooning consumerism and over priced oil, has given Trinidad enough confidence to assert leadership even beyond its own boundaries. I like the idea but the fact remains that this will sideline the CSME mission. What will the Trinnies gain from places like St. Vincent and St. Lucia not to mention Antigua when it hooks up with them in a political union? Every relationship must be mutually beneficial and there is next to no benefit those little rocks can add to Trinidad. Manning simply wants more subjects.
Tyrone Hall
Kingston, Jamaica

A political union between Trinidad and the OECS completely undermines the historical initiative of self-sovereignty from the colonies. The Manning administration should be declared an expansionist government. How confident are they that in pursuit of expanding their "empire" the lives of other islanders will improve? Trying to solve the socio-economic problems of the region with idealistic dreams of unionized prosperity are irrational. Within the microcosm of a small region, the islands need to embrace each other first by defining the roots of their social problems before incurring upon impractical measures. In order to legitimize the valid transparency of this union, we must be able to document the entire plan and determine the scope of such an undertaking, before the Caribbean embarks on yet another failed endeavour.
Joel Thompson
Toronto, Canada

Can anyone explain in detail how this union of Trinidad with the OECS can benefit Trinidad or Barbados? All this talk about regional integration, political and economic union and joint force to be reckoned with means nothing if their can be no gain from it. The islands that form the OECS like Grenada, St. Vincent, Dominica and the rest have nothing to offer whatsoever to Trinidad and Barbados and any union with them would negatively impact on the growth and development of Trinidad. Larger self-dependent progressing islands and countries don’t take part in these types of unions and so are able to maximise their full potential without being burdened by the needs of other islands. It’s time that people get to the facts and see the negative effects that will occur if tourism driven Barbados and oil driven Trinidad join the OECS.
Anand B
Harbor View, Jamaica

For you who do not live in the Caribbean, beware. You need to understand why Manning would put forward this initiative. His dwindling popularity at home because of his government's inability to deal with crime and the rising cost of living at home, he must put on a positive international image because it seems here alone will he get support. Members of OECS beware. If Manning should become the leader of this union or your crime and cost of living will rise too.
Also, some say since Manning's plan to create an executive presidency (virtual dictatorship) in Trinidad failed, his "ambitions" have grown. We will see.
Gabriel
Diego Martin, Trinidad

The issue of an OECS-Trinidad & Tobago political union is certainly not straight forward and merits serious and careful consideration. First of all, is such a union the will of the people of this sub-region? If the people are behind this latest initiative at closer regional integration, then certainly it can work. However, where a political union is thrust upon the people against their will, chances of success are remote.
Furthermore, consideration has to be given to whether or not this latest initiative adds or takes away from the broader regional integration process at the wider CARICOM level. There is significant credit to the view that any move by Trinidad & Tobago and the OECS towards a political union could add renewed vibrancy to what has been a lagging and piece meal approach to integration at the broader CARICOM level. However, there is equal weight in the notion that such a move can also create another schism in the CARICOM integration project which could only exacerbate the piece meal efforts toward integration.
Despite all this, the question really needs to be how Trinidad & Tobago, the OECS and the rest of CARICOM can forge the necessary political/grass roots consensus to ensure that regional integration works. The current global financial crisis, the energy and food security issues, the growing threat from climate change and natural disasters and continued economic and social vulnerability all point to the need for all of CARICOM to face these challenges together rather than apart. If the peoples of Trinidad and Tobago and the OECS see the value in pooling their financial, human, political and social capital to increase their chances of survival in an increasingly volatile international system, go forward they must. Perhaps history would judge the rest of CARICOM harshly for the continued suspicion with which it treats the regional integration enterprise.
Joel Richards
Bridgetown, Barbados

A great idea whose time has come. With the world economy on the brink, cooperation and regional communication is of paramount importance, and our survival as a Caribbean people depends on us coming together as one culture if not nation. Venezuela has invited the Russians into the region, we must take steps now to ensure that the fabric of our democracy and unity is strong.
V. Sealy
North Carolina, USA

CARICOM, OECS, CSME, OECS/Trinidad union - we the peoples of the Caribbean welcome all of these initiatives to foster deeper and more meaningful Caribbean integration. We were integrated by DNA, history and common experiences long before the politics of divide and rule. But our politicians must realise that the greatest catalyst to these processes is the Caribbean people. Where are the people's debate, discourse, and consultation in all of these initiatives? While the elite amongst us are often well informed and engaged, the majority are never consulted, enlightened or well informed of the details and policies driving such noble initiatives. Can we see a bit more people engagement - what does the Caribbean man, woman and child want? Enough of the political elite thinking and deciding on our behalf! I am all for the "One Caribbean Nation", I believe it is the only way forward, but we have to make the case to the common man, woman and child.
Gerald La Touche JP
Roseau and Birmingham
Dominica and England

What will it take? War.
And a realisation that what unites us a stronger and deeper than what divides us (which is mainly sea water).
Kamal
Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines

We need to compete in the global market with larger nations with more resources so I'm hoping this union will work, but is this just Trinidad joining OECS or is this just another union? What we don't need is another subset of Caricom with duplicating efforts.
Kevin White
Montserrat and United States

I would just like to know what has Caricom achieved after so many years. Countries whose economies are strong don't want to form a union with so called 'poor countries'. This initative by Manning sounds good and countries like Guyana and Jamaica should get on board.
Ralph Saywack
Brampton
Canada

In an ideal world, CARICOM would be the place to pursue such a union. However, since that organization is moving at such a slow pace, I applaud the leaders of TT and the OECS for taking the initiative. I wish them all success, and hopefully Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, and Belize will eventually see the light and come on board.
Leslie
Bronx, New York

It is about time and long overdue.
Steve Mayers

The politics of Divide & rule serves only foreign interest.
I agree with the comment that the process of Caribbean union ought to be pursued through CARICOM.
Salaame Ja-Mayro
Mayaro
Trinidad

It is fully well understandable that countries, especially small ones in our region want to form Unions, so as to ensure market access, more bargaining power, etc. I do not totally agree with the OECS-T&T union. The framework for a political and economic union already exists with CARICOM. Yes CARICOM is moving very slowly in getting anything implemented, but here is where I think the OECS and T&T should double their efforts to push that procress along, rather than start a fresh one. In doing this, Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana would still be a part of it. With the signing of the EPA, it is more important now, than ever, that the political and economic union, under CARICOM comes to life.
Roger
Guyana

The union with OECS countries and Trinidad and Tobago was long over due. This idea has been discussed from my childhood right up to adult. We in the OECS countries always consider Trinidad and Tobago part of us, because of family ties, trade and commerce. It is much deeper that just the union. Trinidad and Tobago means much more to the OECS countries and people, having a long history in this region before colonialism.
Kuwassi Hutchinson
Toronto, Canada

Interesting thrust by PM Manning. But what of CARICOM and the Treaty of Chaguaramas? Has Mr Manning taken over the role of the Heads of Government and the Secretariat?
Alton
Jamaica

This means that the T&T Oil & Gas will be OECS Oil & Gas? If the answer is yes, Welcome T&T to the most advance & successful integration initiative of the World!
Robert Vankess
Castries, St. Lucia

That will never work because only Manning want it and no Trini want that.
Chris Masters
Trinidad