ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Opposition Members of Parliament Gaston Browne and Molwyn Joseph attended a one-day meeting on the OECS Economic Union in St Lucia on Friday.

Browne and Joseph joined opposition members of parliament from the OECS to receive an update on the implementation of the OECS Economic Union and engage in matters which required a shared responsibility under the revised Treaty of Basseterre, a release from the Prime Minister’s Office said.

“Of particular importance to the discussions was the issue of the composition and functions of the OECS Assembly which will be headquartered in Antigua and the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker,” the communiqué read.

“Both government and opposition members of Parliament have nominated D Gisele Isaac-Arrindell as the Speaker of the OECS General Assembly, which will have its inaugural meeting on June 15 in Antigua.”

The assembly of parliamentarians is the OECS organ required to serve as a forum for deliberation on primary and secondary legislation proposed for the organisation.

The assembly is to comprise parliamentarians chosen from elected government and opposition members of national legislatures, reflecting as closely as possible the proportionate representation of government and opposition members in the legislatures at the time of selection.

In accordance with the Revised Treaty of Basseterre, the selection is to be made by the corresponding government or opposition side, with the head of government and the leader of the opposition of the member state being one of the government members and opposition members respectively.