The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission has taken another step toward strengthening the Eastern Caribbean Liaison Service (ECLS) Programme following a week-long mission to Canada aimed at advancing the Programme’s transition to a revised governance framework.
The July 5-12 mission was led by Chief of Staff and Head of Strategic Diplomacy Dr. Kisha Grant as part of the Commission’s efforts to ensure the ECLS Programme remains responsive to the Government of Canada’s evolving requirements while maintaining its role as a programme serving the collective interests of OECS Member States.
During the visit, Dr. Grant met with leadership and staff at the ECLS Office in Canada, senior officials from Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Programme within Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), as well as Consuls General, High Commissioners and diplomatic representatives from OECS Member States accredited to Canada.
A major focus of the mission was reaffirming the commitment of the OECS Commission, its Member States and Canadian partners to keeping the ECLS Programme firmly rooted as a regional initiative while advancing governance reforms required to satisfy Canada’s diplomatic designation requirements.
Discussions centered on restructuring the Programme to strengthen governance, improve operational efficiency and ensure its long-term sustainability. The proposed governance framework, previously approved by the OECS Authority, continues to be advanced through the ECLS Transition Committee, which was established in 2025 and includes representatives from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Head of ECLS and senior OECS Commission officials.
Officials also explored opportunities to expand participation in the Programme, increase the number of workers benefiting from it and strengthen collaboration among participating Member States to maximize its economic and social impact.
The delegation also assessed the proposed future location of the ECLS Office as part of the transition process and observed the Programme’s day-to-day operations.
Reflecting on the visit, Dr. Grant described the mission as productive and emphasized the importance of the Programme to workers across the region.
“The Canada mission provided a unique opportunity to engage directly with our ECLS team, Member State representatives and our Canadian partners at a critical point in the Programme’s evolution. The discussions reinforced our shared commitment to ensuring that ECLS continues to serve as a strong and sustainable OECS pillar while meeting Canada’s requirements. Perhaps most importantly, the mission reinforced something we should never lose sight of – that behind every discussion and every decision are hundreds of workers and families across our Member States whose lives continue to be positively impacted by this Programme each year.”
During the mission, Consuls General and High Commissioners representing several OECS Member States also reaffirmed their support for maintaining the Programme as a collective OECS initiative while strengthening it to create opportunities for even more workers throughout the region.
The delegation also met with participating workers, some of whom have returned to the Programme annually for more than two decades, gaining firsthand insight into its impact on their lives and livelihoods.
Dr. Grant said meeting the workers underscored the Programme’s significance.
“The opportunity to interact with the workers themselves was particularly meaningful. Their experiences are a powerful reminder that the ECLS Programme is one of the OECS Commission’s most tangible and enduring success stories. Behind every placement is a family, a community and a future being strengthened through meaningful employment opportunities.”
The OECS Commission said it will continue working through the ECLS Transition Committee alongside Member States and Canadian authorities to implement the next phase of the transition while strengthening the Programme’s long-term effectiveness and impact.