Nearly 42 years after joining as an associate member, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is moving forward with plans to attain full membership in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), reaffirming its longstanding commitment to regional integration during the bloc’s latest commission gathering.
BVI Special Envoy and OECS Commissioner Benito Wheatley laid out the territory’s position at the 49th Meeting of the OECS Commission, held April 30, according to an official release from the BVI government. The high-level gathering brought together OECS Director General Didacus Jules, the organization’s senior leadership cohort, and ambassador-level commissioners from all member governments. Wheatley also attended the 3rd Meeting of OECS Associate Members held one month prior on March 31 in his official capacity.
In his address to the commission, Wheatley highlighted the decades of mutual value BVI has gained from OECS affiliation, dating back to its acceptance as an associate member in 1984. He commended the wide-ranging benefits delivered through the organization’s regional cooperation frameworks, pointing to core OECS institutions and collaborative initiatives as transformative for both the BVI and the broader subregion. These include the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, the unified Eastern Caribbean currency system, the OECS Economic Union, and cross-sector partnerships covering public health, education, civil aviation, agriculture, sports, and more.
Today, the BVI hosts the Commercial Court Division of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, a development that has strengthened the territory’s critical financial services sector, boosted its overall economy, and improved judicial access for the entire OECS subregion, Wheatley explained. He also noted that the BVI’s participation in the OECS Pool Procurement Services allows the territory to source high-quality pharmaceuticals and health supplies at far lower prices than independent procurement, delivering direct, tangible savings and benefits to BVI residents.
Wheatley also recalled the critical support the OECS extended to the BVI in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the 2017 category 5 storms that left widespread catastrophic destruction across the territory. Beyond disaster response, he emphasized that the OECS continues to play an indispensable role in coordinated regional action and global advocacy for pressing shared priorities, including climate change adaptation, biodiversity protection, and inclusive sustainable development.
Formally signaling the BVI’s next step in its relationship with the organization, Wheatley confirmed that the territory now seeks to transition from associate member status to full membership after 42 years of association. He outlined that deeper integration through full membership, including participation in the OECS Customs Union, would open new opportunities for the BVI by expanding the territory’s access to affordable, high-quality agricultural goods and food products from across the entire OECS region.
“We are very pleased with the ongoing exploratory discussions between the BVI and OECS on Full Membership and grateful to all OECS Member States for their encouragement and support as we continue dialogue on this important endeavour,” Wheatley said. He closed his address by extending formal gratitude to the OECS for its decades of contribution to the BVI’s sustained growth and institutional development.