Browne Attends ECCB-IMF Meeting in St Kitts

Honourable Gaston Browne

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Today, Prime Minister Gaston Browne left the island to attend a series of crucial meetings in St. Kitts, one of which is a meeting between the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Monetary Council and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

This meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday and Friday and is preceded by a meeting of the OECS Authority, which is the highest decision-making body of the sub-regional group.

The 74th Meeting of the OECS Authority is scheduled from February 14 to 15 in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

During this meeting, Prime Minister Browne will join his fellow OECS Heads to discuss various important matters such as the Regional Transportation, the work of the OECS Commission, outcomes of COP 28, and further Regional Integration amongst OECS Member States.

Besides attending the OECS Authority meeting, the Prime Minister will also attend the 107th Meeting of the Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank while in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The ECCB Monetary Council comprises finance members from the grouping, who will meet for dinner with the IMF’s Deputy Director, Bo Li on Thursday evening, followed by a formal meeting on Friday morning.

The Monetary Council Chairman will commence the meeting with introductory remarks, followed by a response from Director Li, after which both sides will sit down for a more in-depth discussion.

According to the latest ECCB report, the economies of the OECS have been performing well, and as such, it is not expected that any country within the OECS would be seeking budgetary support from the IMF anytime soon.

Furthermore, one commentator has noted that the economies of the OECS states are heavily dependent on tourism, and the industry is currently experiencing a boom, which is fueling expansion and growth in their countries.

Accompanying Prime Minister Browne is Senior Foreign Service officer, Kurt Williams.