CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) -The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Monday kicked off its 45th anniversary celebrations, saying that the event marks a significant milestone in the journey of collective resilience that has defined the organisation since the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre in 1981.

The OECS was established on June 18, 1981, when seven Eastern Caribbean countries – Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Montserrat signed the original Treaty of Basseterre in Basseterre.

The celebrations will be held under the theme “One Vision, One Voice: Navigating Challenges, Shaping Our Future” with the St Lucia-based OECS Commission saying the anniversary serves as a reminder that within a “perpetually changing global environment marked by economic uncertainty, climate vulnerability, and geopolitical shifts, OECS citizens must work together in shaping a future defined by innovation and sustainability through community”.

It echoed the recent exhortation of OECS Director General Dr Didacus Jules, that the anniversary celebrations underscore the importance of self-confidence and solidarity.

Jules had noted that “small states survive not by being self-sufficient, but by being system smart,” highlighting the importance of acting collectively where fragmentation weakens the region’s ability to respond to global challenges.”

The OECS Commission said that the theme therefore speaks not only to the shared aspirations of OECS member states, “but also to the responsibility of every national to contribute to, protect progress, and direct the future of the region.

“At the heart of the anniversary celebrations is the OECS 45 for 45 Changemakers Initiative, a volunteerism and service campaign inviting OECS nationals at home and in the diaspora to participate in acts of positive change in their communities.

“Suggested activities will be provided through the registration form, while participants will also have the opportunity to propose their own initiatives aligned with the spirit of community service, regional cooperation, and sustainable development,” it added.

In addition to the Changemakers Initiative, several commemorative activities are planned throughout the anniversary period with a base in Antigua and Barbuda, including: Contingent Rights Webinar, where citizens can learn about their rights to live, work and travel freely, OECS Colours Day on June 18, encouraging citizens across the region to proudly wear OECS colours in celebration of regional identity and the OECS in the Classroom School Campaign.