OECS strengthens ties with Canada amid US pressure

Leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have announced a renewed effort to deepen cooperation with Canada on trade, education, labour mobility and cybersecurity.

The move comes as OECS countries navigate growing geopolitical pressures, including recent requests from the United States regarding migration arrangements.

The U.S. has been pushing some OECS states to accept deportees who are unknown to these Caribbean countries. OECS heads have formed a regional negotiating team to engage Washington collectively.

Amid these developments, a Canadian delegation recently met OECS officials in St. Lucia to discuss concrete ways to expand cooperation, including easier pathways for OECS citizens to access Canadian education and work opportunities and stronger partnerships on cybersecurity and regional security.

The leaders also discussed a proposed meeting between OECS heads and Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, viewing it as timely amid evolving geopolitical dynamics and shared interests.

“Canada has long been a trusted partner to the Eastern Caribbean, particularly in human capital development,” said Dr. Didacus Jules, OECS Director General. “This engagement provides an opportunity to take a deeper, more strategic look at how we strengthen cooperation, especially in education, labour mobility, and regional security, while advancing practical outcomes for our Member States and for Canada.”

An estimated 750,000 people of Caribbean origin live in Canada, many in Ontario and Quebec, though not all are specifically from OECS states. This broader Caribbean-Canadian community highlights longstanding ties between the region and Canada.