CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) – Leaders at the just concluded 60th OECS (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States), Authority meeting in Martinique have rejected a proposal for the establishment of the Eastern Caribbean Competition Commission, which would serve as the main consumer protection body for member states.

Instead, they have decided to latch onto the already existing CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Competition Commission, based in Suriname.

The decision comes against the backdrop of a major push by telecommunications giant Cable and Wireless to buyout Columbus International; the parent Company of FLOW.

Telecommunications Regulator, ECTEL, has expressed concern that the deal could lead to a monopoly in a number of services in the sub-region, including cable TV and internet.

In response to the proposed merger, ECTEL called on the OECS Commission in November 2014, to “move with some haste to establish the OECS Competition Commission.”

At a news conference following two days of talks in Fort de France, OECS Chairman -Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt of Dominica said, “The issues which we would have to deal with, in so far as trade disputes are concerned or dumping in the OECS, would not be a significant number of matters to consider.”

Therefore he said sub-regional leaders felt, “we may want to consider conferring that responsibility to the already existing CARICOM Competition Commission.”

“OECS Heads mandated the conduct of technical and legal work on this matter ahead of the upcoming 26th inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, February 26th and 27th 2015 in the Bahamas” according to a Communique released after the meeting.

On its website, the CARICOM Competition Commission pledges to “promote and maintain fair competition within the Caribbean Community for the enhancement of economic efficiency and consumer welfare.”