Former Minister Samantha Marshall Elected Deputy Speaker of OECS Assembly
In a powerful and sobering address delivered to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Assembly on June 17, 2025, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. E.P. Chet Greene delivered a forceful call to action, urging the region to unify and prepare for the cascading global crises threatening small island developing states (SIDS).
Greene, who led Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation to the sitting of the OECS Assembly, didn’t mince words as he painted a stark picture of global instability from open warfare in the Middle East to an economic climate fractured by protectionist trade policies and weakened global institutions. He urged member states of the OECS to stop “coasting along” and instead respond to these threats with strategic urgency and decisive leadership.
“Because the world is on fire,” Greene said in his opening. “Everywhere war and conflict rage… the forces shaping today’s world have no patience for small island developing states. Our vulnerabilities are not acknowledged, and our situation elicits no special consideration.”
Greene’s speech, delivered in the presence of OECS Assembly members and the distinguished guest speaker Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), was as much a warning as it was a blueprint for action.
Highlighting the collapse or weakening of international institutions like the United Nations and the International Criminal Court, Greene declared that no rescue is coming from outside the region. “We must rescue ourselves,” he said, “from the hurricane of economic conflict now bearing down on us.”
Despite the grim global backdrop, Greene struck a hopeful note by reaffirming support for the WTO and its role in safeguarding the interests of smaller states. “With all its imperfections, the WTO is still the best hope for the countries of the OECS to have a stable and secure system under which to conduct international trade,” he said.
Greene called for urgent reform of the WTO’s dispute-settlement system and a greater recognition of SIDS as a distinct and vulnerable category within the global trade regime. “If WTO reform looks like fairness, balance and efficiency, we will support it,” he declared. “But if we allow ourselves to be bullied into a patchwork of bilateral deals, we will be abandoning the only real protection we have.”
He also laid out three clear actions the OECS must prioritize:
- Finalize the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union with the Free Circulation of Goods regime at its core, something Greene admitted has been long delayed.
- Resolve intra-regional trade challenges, particularly Article 164 issues within CARICOM, by enhancing competitiveness at the OECS level.
- Ramp up trade diplomacy by building new economic relationships and reinforcing OECS representation at international bodies like the WTO.
He commended the OECS mission in Geneva for its plans to bolster its team, calling it a necessary step toward securing the region’s place on the world trade map.
The Assembly also witnessed a moment of pride for Antigua and Barbuda as former Minister and Senator Samantha Marshall was elected Deputy Speaker of the OECS Assembly. Her election was moved by none other than Minister Greene, further underscoring Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to regional leadership.
In a statement posted to her Facebook page, Marshall expressed heartfelt gratitude:
“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has sent congratulatory messages following my recent election as Deputy Speaker to the OECS Assembly.
It is truly an honor to serve in this capacity, and I see it as an opportunity, in my little way, to contribute to the advancement of our OECS regional development agenda.”
She continued, “I am especially grateful to the Antigua and Barbuda delegation, led by Hon. E.P. Chet Greene, for moving my nomination. Together, our OECS member states can achieve great things and I hope there will be other opportunities to serve both my nation and our region in the pursuit of regional development.”
Marshall’s election is seen as a meaningful boost to the OECS’ internal cohesion, and her presence in the Assembly is expected to further strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s voice in regional policymaking.
Greene’s closing remarks signaled a mix of determination and solidarity. “Great causes are not won by fearful men and women,” he said. “Antigua and Barbuda is prepared to move forward in concert with all members of the OECS to do what is necessary to defend and secure our development and our prosperity.”
He also offered special thanks to Director-General Okonjo-Iweala for her leadership at a time when many institutions are faltering. “She enjoys our full support,” Greene concluded, drawing applause from the Assembly.
As the OECS grapples with the external pressures of war, trade upheaval, and climate vulnerability, Greene’s message was clear: Unity, discipline, and bold action are the only way forward.
