BAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY RELATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY On 26th July 1968, in Arusha, Tanzania, the three member states of the EAC signed an Association Agreement with the European Economic Community. The Agreement expired on 31st May 1969 without having come into force, but a successor agreement was signed on 24th September 1969. This Agreement expired on 31st January 1975. Under this certain exports from the Community were admitted duty free in return for minor concessions in the EAC tariff, but no provision was made for aid. The three countries of the Community are signatories of the Lomé Convention, signed in Togo on the 28th February 1975, between the EEC and 46 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. This is a trade and aid agreement which could have far-reaching effects on the economies of many ACP Countries, helping to stabilise their export prices, providing duty-free entry for their industrial products and preferential rates for agricultural outputs, and providing aid on a substantial scale. REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE THE WEST INDIES ASSOCIATED STATES This Court was established for the six proposed Associated States by Order in Council in February 1967. The Order enabled the Court to have jurisdiction also in Montserrat and the Virgin Islands. The Court consists of a Court of Appeal and a High Court. The Chief Justice is appointed by Her Majesty, and the Justices of Appeal and Puisne Judges on behalf of Her Majesty by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission. The Commission consists of the Chief Justice, one of the Justices of Appeal or Puisne Judges, an ex-Judge appointed with the concurrence of not less than four of the Premiers and the Chairman of two of the Public Services Commissions of the States in rotation. Judges are removable from office only if the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council has advised removal for inability or misbehaviour. The expenses of the Court, after allowing for any contributions from Montserrat and the Virgin Islands, are met by the states in equal shares and are charged on the Consolidated Funds of the respective states by the Order in Council. On becoming independent in February 1974 Grenada decided to retain its connection with the Court under the style (or title) of The Supreme Court of Grenada and the West Indies Associated States. CHIEF JUSTICE Mr Maurice H. Davis, OBE, QC JUSTICES OF APPEAL Mr Justice Percival Cecil Lewis: Mr Justice Elvin Lloyd St Bernard; Mr Justice Neville Berridge (St Vincent) HIGH COURT JUDGES Mr Justice Eric Herbert Austin Bishop (Grenada) Mr Justice Eardley Fitzgeorge Glasgow (St Kitts and British Virgin Islands) Mr Justice R.A. Nedd Mr Justice J. D. B. Renwick Chief Registrar: E. Wilkinson (resident in Grenada) INTERIM COMMISSIONER FOR THE WEST INDIES The office was held from its inception by Sir Stephen Luke, KCMG until October 1968, when Sir Claude Hayes, KCMG assumed the office. Its few remaining functions relate to pensions in respect of service with the former Government of the Federation of the West Indies and to a small residue of federal assets and liabilities. THE WEST INDIES (ASSOCIATED STATES) COUNCIL OF MINISTERS This Council was established on 1st November 1966 in succession to the Regional Council of Ministers. The latter had existed since 1962, having been formed by the Governments of Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla, St Lucia and St Vincent, to consider problems of common interest in connection with the proposal to establish a Federation of those territories. The Regional Council of Ministers was wound up when Barbados proceeded to separate independence in November 1966. The West Indies (Associated States) Council of Ministers comprises the Premiers of the Associated States and the Chief Minister of Montserrat. The Chairman for the first year was the Premier of Antigua, to be followed for a year at a time by the other members in rotation. The Secretariat is established in St Lucia. The purpose of the Council is to administer such common services and to perform such other functions as may be agreed from time to time. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY The Regional Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Governments represented on the West Indies (Associated States) Council of Ministers and the Government of Barbados. It ceased to exist as a separate organisation on 16th December 1970. THE CARIBBEAN METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE The Caribbean Meteorological Service was established in succession to the West Indies Meteorological Service and embraces Antigua, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, St Lucia, St Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago. Each Government contributes to the cost of a Headquarters Unit based in Trinidad under the direction of the DirectorGeneral. Overall responsibility for the Service is vested in the Caribbean Meteorological Council which consists of a representative from each of the participating Governments. The Council meets at least once every year. A Regional Institute of Tropical Meteorology has been established in Barbados. THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY The Commonwealth Caribbean Heads of Government, at a meeting in Trinidad in October 1972, agreed in principle to the formation of a Caribbean Community which would embrace a Caribbean Common Market foreign policy co-ordination and several areas of functional co-operation. On 4th July 1973 the Governments of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas formally establishing the Caribbean Community with effect from 1st August 1973. Provision was made to enable the other members of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) to sign the Treaty at a later date. The Caribbean Community superseded CARIFTA from 1st May 1974. EASTERN CARIBBEAN COMMON MARKET This Common Market was set up in June 1968 between the Governments represented on the West Indies (Associated States) Council of Ministers. The Secretariat is now in Antigua. The objectives of the Common Market are to promote among its Member States the harmonious development of economic activities and expansion by the facilitation of the maximum possible inter-change of goods and services, by the progressive elimination of customs duties and quantitative restrictions on the import and export of goods, the establishment of common customs tariffs and commercial and fiscal policies, and the abolition of obstacles to the free movement of persons, services and capital between the Member States. THE WEST INDIES SHIPPING SERVICE The West Indies Shipping Corporation Act, 1961, established a Shipping Corporation to operate and maintain a regular shipping service between the territories of the then Federation of the West Indies, using two ships donated by the Canadian Government. From March 1972 the Corporation has introduced a freighter into the service. On the break-up of the Federation in 1962 it was agreed that the Service should be continued under the policy direction of a Regional Shipping Council, on which were represented the Governments of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and the West Indies Associated States. Guyana has subsequently acceded to membership of this body. The headquarters of the Shipping Corporation are in Trinidad. THE CARIBBEAN DEVELOPMENT BANK The Bank was formally established in January 1970 with the following members: Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts-NevisAnguilla, St Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United Kingdom. In April 1972, Columbia and Venezuela were admitted to the Bank. The purpose of the Bank is to contribute to the harmonious economic growth and development of the member countries in the Caribbean and promote economic cooperation among them, having special and urgent regard to the needs of the less developed members of the region. The Bank has an authorised capital of U.S. $100 m. Membership is open to States and Territories of the region, and nonregional States which are members of the United Nations or any of the specialised agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Bank's headquarters are in Barbados. SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC AIR TRANSPORT COUNCIL A SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION regional Commission for the South Pacific was established in 1947 (Cmnd 8539) by agreement between the Governments of Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The Netherlands ceased to be a participating Government on 31st December 1962 and various other changes were made in the Agreement as a result. An amending Agreement signed on 2nd October 1964 provided for the independent State of Western Samoa to become a participating Government of the Commission and, also, for any other territory which becomes independent and was within the Commission's scope immediately before independence if it wishes and is invited to do so by the participating Governments. Nauru became a participating Government in 1969, and Fiji in 1971. The Commission is a consultative and advisory body to the participating Governments in matters affecting the economic and social development of territories in the South Pacific region, and is able to provide advice, training facilities etc. to the territories, including those which have become 'participating Governments' under the amending agreement of 2nd October 1964. The work programme is financed mainly by contributions from the participating Governments. The Commission and the South Pacific Conference, which consists of delegates from the Governments and territories within the Commission area, meet once a year in a joint session known as the South Pacific Conference. The United Kingdom Representative on the S.P.C. is Mr E. A. W. Bullock, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Secretary-General is Mr G. F. D. Betham of Western Samoa. Mr Betham's term of office is due to end on 31st October 1975. SOUTH PACIFIC AIR TRANSPORT COUNCIL The Council was established as a result of recommendations made by a Civil Aviation Conference held in Wellington in 1946. The Permanent Chairman of the Council is the Australian Minister responsible for Civil Aviation and the Secretariat is in Melbourne, Australia. The UK, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji are members of the Council, the UK representing also its dependent territories in the area. The Constitution provides for associate membership, which has been extended to Tonga and Nauru. The Council, which normally meets every two years, has had twenty meetings since it was formed. The Council provides for the development of air traffic services for trunk routes through the area around Fiji and for the development of Nadi (Nandi) Airport in Fiji. The latter has been administered on behalf of the Council by the New Zealand Government, but at its 20th meeting in Suva in October 1973 it was agreed that the Government of Fiji would take over this responsibility from July 1975. |