The OECS commences plans to develop a Single Domestic Space

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The OECS Commission will be hosting a high-level Symposium to develop a framework for the establishment of an OECS Single Domestic Space, within the context of the OECS Economic Union.

A key principle of the Single Domestic Space is that persons travelling within the Economic Union Area (EUA) should be treated as if they would already have been cleared for entry and satisfied all required border control formalities for entry into the EUA; and visitors arriving from outside the space should satisfy all border control checks only at the first point of entry into the EUA and then be able to move freely within the EUA, without subsequent border control checks.
The symposium will bring together key officials from the Member States of the OECS Economic Union including Commissioners of Police, Chief Immigration Officers, Comptrollers of Customs, Air and Sea Port Managers to examine, discuss and facilitate the exchange of ideas and information on facilities, systems, processes and procedures required to create this s ingle space for travel within the OECS region.
Some pertinent issues to be discussed at the Symposium include:

  1. Systems required for a harmonized border management, including the management structure for border agencies, and security procedures and systems;
  2. Procedures and systems for full clearance at Immigration and Customs at the initial port of entry into the Economic Union Area, including the separation of domestic and international travelers and ports of entry;
  3. Mechanism for information sharing and for intelligence gathering and sharing among border agencies within Member States and among Member States;
  4. Requirements and implications for the application of a Common Visa Regime;
  5. Mechanism for distinguishing between the movement of personal effects and the movement of commercial goods within the Economic Union Area, for the purpose of applying VAT and excise taxes where necessary; and
  6. Procedures for treatment of goods including passengers’ baggage, excisable goods (e.g. tobacco based products and alcohol for personal consumption) and personal and household effects owned by individuals relocating to another Member State.

The symposium will also target key regional partners including the CARICOM Secretariat, sub-agencies of CARICOM including CARICOM’ s Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), the Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC), and the Regional Security System (RSS).  Officials will also discuss ongoing initiatives and share experiences in the development of similar regimes, highlighting critical lessons learnt.
The symposium will be held from May 30th to June 2nd at the St. James Club in Antigua and Barbuda.

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