'We've been in discussions' with UK for full OECS & CARICOM membership- VI Premier
Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), during an interview on January 14, 2026, at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport, following an emergency OECS meeting in Saint Lucia, reaffirmed the VI’s continued engagement with the OECS.
He emphasised the importance of regional unity, shared learning, and coordinated responses to evolving geopolitical and regional challenges.
The VI has been an associate member of OECS for over 40 years and an associate member of CARICOM for over 30 years.
"We’ve been in discussions with the United Kingdom Government…about full membership in CARICOM and OECS…Of course, that’s something that the United Kingdom has to give their sign-off on, and then we can go ahead and make an application,” Premier Wheatley said.
'I left the meeting very encouraged'
Heads of Government of the OECS met in Saint Lucia on January 13, 2026, to address several critical regional and international issues, including the emerging geopolitical environment, regional developments, and proposals being discussed with the United States.
The emergency meeting was hosted by the Hon Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, under the chairmanship of Hon Dr Godwin E.L. Friday, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, in his inaugural Heads of Government meeting.
Other Heads of Government present were Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of the Commonwealth of Dominica; Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada; Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew of St Kitts and Nevis; Premier Reuben T. Meade of Montserrat; and Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge of Anguilla. They were accompanied by the Director General of the OECS, Dr Didacus Jules.
Premier Wheatley said his participation was both necessary and encouraging in the midst of accelerated regional and international developments.
“It was important for me to be there for this somewhat emergency meeting due to all of the developments which have been taking place.”
He noted the VI’s long-standing relationship with the OECS and the significance of regional coordination at this time.
“I was very pleased with the resolve of the leaders there, their commitment to work even closer together, in terms of our foreign policy objectives, and even practical areas of functional cooperation. I left the meeting very encouraged that we would have good follow-up, and we would have very strong cooperation in areas of mutual benefit.”
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31 Responses to “'We've been in discussions' with UK for full OECS & CARICOM membership- VI Premier”
This don't make sense
Those eastern Caribbean countries have far greater population than the B.V.I has. If the B.V.I becomes a full member of those two organization, it can cause further friction between us and the UK. In addition to that it will, for sure, cause greater stress in a number of areas that will harm local businesses, and heightened crimes, due to undesirable characters, and cultural diversities, and also cause further financial pressure, especially against jobless people, and minimum wage workers potential change of hoping to earn adequate pay, in order for for them to cope with daily financial issues.
We are not ready for this, please and thanks!
In the event that this administrator does not advocate for free movement, it is possible that some other administration may do so in the future. This could be leaders with anti-national beliefs, foolish administration skills, or those who accept generous bribes; why would the Premier wish to open this Pandora's box?
Them crazy or what this is a bad for the BVI.