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The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) recently hosted a landmark diplomatic meeting at its Saint Lucia-based Commission headquarters, where it formally welcomed Stacy M. Lomba, the newly appointed Political and Economic Counselor of the U.S. Embassy with accreditation to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean region and the OECS. The gathering centered on forging stronger collaborative ties between the United States and the 11-member regional integration bloc, building on momentum from earlier high-level exchanges between OECS leadership and U.S. diplomatic representatives, including a previous meeting with former Chargé d’Affaires Ms. Sullivan.

Leading the OECS delegation was Dr. Kisha Grant, Chief of Staff for Strategic Diplomacy at the OECS Commission, who stepped into the role on behalf of OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules. Participants opened the discussion by reflecting on the deep, decades-long diplomatic and people-to-people connections that have bound the United States and individual OECS member states. Both sides emphasized the unique strategic value of expanding direct engagement with the OECS as a unified regional body and a robust platform for coordinated collective action across the Eastern Caribbean.

During the talks, representatives from both sides mapped out a broad range of priority areas where mutual cooperation aligns with shared strategic and economic goals. These areas span investment attraction and inclusive economic development, bolstering regional energy security, countering cross-border security threats, managing irregular migration, accelerating the region’s digital transformation, building climate-resilient infrastructure, expanding educational access, and growing people-to-people exchange programs that connect communities across the United States and the Eastern Caribbean.

A core focus of the meeting was the need to establish a more formal, structured dialogue framework to address these shared priorities. Attendees agreed that the OECS Commission is uniquely positioned to streamline coordination between its member states on regional priorities, creating a clearer channel for consistent engagement with U.S. diplomatic stakeholders.

As the primary takeaway from the gathering, OECS Commission representatives and the U.S. Embassy reached a formal agreement to move forward with preparations for a full OECS-U.S. planning and working-level dialogue at the earliest possible date. This upcoming meeting will serve as a space to identify and align on the specific priority cooperation areas for individual OECS member states, laying the groundwork for broader strategic discussions between OECS Heads of Government and senior U.S. Embassy leadership.

A student leader from The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus is pushing Jamaican officials to fill a long-vacant honorary consul position in Antigua and Barbuda, arguing that Jamaican residents in the twin-island nation currently lack accessible on-the-ground support.

Jake Taylor, president of the UWI Five Islands Campus Guild, raised the issue during a formal courtesy meeting between leaders of the Inter-Campus Guild Council (ICGC) and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holless. The meeting was part of the opening leg of the ICGC’s 2026/2027 academic year itinerary, hosted by the UWI Mona Campus Guild of Students in Kingston, Jamaica.

Taylor told the prime minister that the post has sat empty for roughly two years, ever since the previous honorary consul stepped down. In his remarks, Taylor emphasized the critical role the office played for Jamaicans living in Antigua and Barbuda, offering support ranging from official document preparation and scholarship access to advocacy on labor and immigration issues. Without a local representative, Jamaican residents in the twin-island state are left without a dedicated point of contact for these critical needs.

Prime Minister Holness acknowledged that he had not previously been aware that the position was vacant. He reassured Taylor that Jamaican residents in Antigua and Barbuda have not been abandoned by the government, noting that the Jamaican High Commission based in Trinidad and Tobago continues to offer services to this community. Even so, Holness conceded that accessing support from a distant mission creates unnecessary barriers for people living in Antigua and Barbuda, mirroring the concerns Taylor had raised.

To move the process forward, Holness directed Taylor to schedule a follow-up meeting with Abka Fitz-Henley, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, to work through next steps. During that subsequent discussion, Fitz-Henley committed that his office would reach out to the Jamaican High Commission to gather the latest information and coordinate efforts to appoint a new honorary consul in a timely manner.

Taylor has expressed cautious optimism about the Jamaican government’s response and says he intends to keep pushing for progress on the appointment until a new officeholder is named. The UWI Five Islands Campus Guild of Students reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to advocating for not just its student body, but also members of the broader Jamaican community residing in Antigua and Barbuda, many of whom rely on the services an honorary consul provides.

As the official student government of UWI Five Islands Campus, the Guild Council comprises elected student leaders spanning a range of portfolios including academics, student welfare, publications, campus events, athletics, and international affairs. Its core mission is to serve as the unified representative voice for the campus student body, advancing student interests, elevating student concerns to university administration, and championing the rights, well-being, and professional development of all students. Guided by the principle “Together We Can Make It Happen,” the Guild Council runs programs and initiatives focused on fostering student leadership, deepening campus engagement, and building a more connected, inclusive campus community.