RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/S/O/VCT 
24 June 2005 
 (05-2699) 
Trade in Services 
Special Session Original:   English 
 
 
 
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES 
 
Initial Conditional Offer  
 
The following initial offer has been received from the delegation of Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines on 25 May 2005, with the request that it be circulated to the Members of the Council for 
Trade in Services. 
_______________ 
 
 1. The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenad ines herewith submits its initial offer within 
the context of the negotiations on trade in servi ces under Article XIX of the GATS and pursuant to 
paragraph 15 of the Doha Ministerial Declarati on of 14 November 2001 and Annex C of the General 
Council Decision of 1 August 2004. 
2. The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenad ines reserves the right to make any technical 
changes or corrections to this offer throughout th e course of the negotiations;  and to modify, reduce 
or withdraw this offer, in whole or in part at  any time prior to the conclusion of the negotiations. 
 
  TN/S/O/VCT 
Page 2 ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES – SCHEDULE OF SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS 
Modes of supply: 1)   Cross-border 2)   Consumption abroad 3)   Commercial presence 4)   Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Subsector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
I. HORIZONTAL COMMITMENTS  
ALL SECTORS INCLUDED 
IN THIS SECTION    
 3)   Commercial presence requires that foreign 
service providers incorporate or establish the 
business locally in accordanc e with the 
requirements of St.  Vincent's Commercial 
Code, and where so required, be subject to 
relevant Acts pertaining to property 
acquisition lease and rental and any 
operating conditions that may be the subject 
of existing laws and regulations.  Some of  
these are as follows : 
 
 -   The Exchange Control Act  which 
requires St.  Vincent's Ministry of Finance 
to regulate all Foreign Exchange 
Transactions.  
 
 -   Withholding Tax:  Foreign Investment  
enterprises in St. Vincent are subject to 
the Withholding Tax Pro vision of the 
Income Tax Ordinance.    
  -  Registration of Juridical Presence  
St. Vincent's commercial code requires 
that all companies be registered.  
 -  Insurance Act .  Only corporate entities 
are allowed to conduct  insurance business 
in St.  Vincent.  All  such entities must first 
be registered by the Registrar of 
Insurance.       TN/S/O/VCT
 Page 3Modes of supply: 1)   Cross-border 2)   Consumption abroad 3)   Commercial presence 4)   Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Subsector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
  -  Aliens Landholding .  The Alien 
Landholding Act requires foreign 
companies and individual wishing to hold 
property in St.  Vincent to first obtain a 
licence in order to do so withi n which 
conditions of purchases are detailed . 
   
 3) Foreign Service providers must be 
incorporated or registered in St. Vincent and 
the Grenadines and Foreign Investors are required to obtain an Alien Land Holding 
Licence to hold or transfer land, mortgage, 
shares or debentures in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. All payments made to non-
residents providing a service are subject to 
withholding tax.  
   
 4) The entry of all foreign natural persons to 
St. Vincent and their residence in St.  Vincent 
is regulat ed by St.  Vincent's immigration 
laws.  
 
 Unbound, except  Tthe employment of foreign 
natural persons is subject to Work Permit regulations.  Issuance of permits is normally 
confined to people with managerial, specialist 
and technical skills, which are in short supply or not available in St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines . 
  Professionals in certain disciplines may be
 are 
required to register with the appropriate 
professional s or governmental bod iesy.  For 
example all medical practitioners must be 
registered under the Medical Registration Act 
in order to be permitted to legally practice in St. Vincent and the Grenadines . 
    TN/S/O/VCT 
Page 4 Modes of supply: 1)   Cross-border 2)   Consumption abroad 3)   Commercial presence 4)   Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Subsector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
II. SECTOR-SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS  
1. BUSINESS SERVICES 
 
C. Research and 
Development Services  
 
 Research and 
experimental 
development services on 
engineering and technology 
 (CPC 85103) 
  
 
  
 
 
 
1) Unbound 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section   
 
  
 
 
 
1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
 horizontal section 
  
E. Rental/Leasing services 
without operator   
 
 Leasing/rental services 
concerning aircraft 
without operator 
 (CPC 83104)   
 
 
1) None 2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
  
 
 
1) None 2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the  horizontal section 
  
2. COMMUNICATION 
SERVICES 
 
B. Courier Services  
 (CPC 7512)  
  
 
 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
  
 
 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 
     TN/S/O/VCT
 Page 5Modes of supply: 1)   Cross-border 2)   Consumption abroad 3)   Commercial presence 4)   Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Subsector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
C. Telecommunication 
Services  
  For public use
 
a. Voice telephone services 
 (CPC 7521) b. Packet-switch data 
transmission services 
(CPC 7523**, 7524**) 
c. Circuit-switch data 
transmission services 
(CPC 7523**, 7524**) 
d. Telex service 
(CPC 7523**) 
e. Telegraph services 
(CPC  7522) 
f. Facsimile services 
(CPC 7521**) 
 CPC 7529**) 
g. Private leased circuit 
 services (CPC 7522**, 
 CPC 7523**) 
  
 
  
1) Unbound 
2) None 3) A licence is required under the Telecom.  
Act of 2001 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section   
 
  
1) None 
2) None 3) None 
 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
  
 
 
Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines undertakes 
the obligations in the attached reference paper. 
  TN/S/O/VCT 
Page 6 Modes of supply: 1)   Cross-border 2)   Consumption abroad 3)   Commercial presence 4)   Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Subsector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
    
For non-public use (i.e. closed 
user groups)  
 a. Voice telephone services 
 (CPC 7521) 
b. Packet-switch data 
transmission services 
(CPC 7523**, 7524**) 
c. Circuit-switch data 
transmission services 
(CPC 7523**, 7524**) 
f. Facsimile services  (CPC 7521**, 7529**) 
h. Electronic mail  
 (CPC 7523**) i. Voice mail (CPC 7523**) 
j. On-line information and 
data base retrieval  
 (CPC 7523**) 
  
 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
  
 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section   
k. Electronic data 
interchange 
 (CPC 7523**) l. Enhanced/value-added 
facsimile services, incl. 
Store and forward, store and retrieve 
 (CPC 7523**) 
m. Code and protocol 
conversation 
n. On-line information 
and/or data processing (incl. Transaction 
processing) 
 (CPC 843**)  o. Other 
 Internet and internet 
access (except voice) (CPC 75260)  1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section      TN/S/O/VCT
 Page 7Modes of supply: 1)   Cross-border 2)   Consumption abroad 3)   Commercial presence 4)   Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Subsector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
    
For public use  
 
Mobile services (terrestrial based) 
 
- Cellular/mobile telephone - Mobile data services 
- Personal communications 
(CPC 75291) 
 
 
 For public and non-public 
use: 
 Mobile Services (satellite-
based) 
 - Mobile telephone services 
- Mobile data services 
- Personal communication 
services  
 (CPC 75291)  
  
 
  
 
1)  Unbound 
2) None 
3)  A licence is required under the Telecom. 
 Act of 2001 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
 
 
  
 
1) A licence is required under the Telecom. Act of 2001 
2) None 
3) A licence is required under the Telecom. 
 Act of 2001 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
 
  
 
  
 
1) None 2) None 
3) None 
 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 
  
 
  
 
1) None  
2) None 
3) None 
 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
   TN/S/O/VCT 
Page 8 Modes of supply: 1)   Cross-border 2)   Consumption abroad 3)   Commercial presence 4)   Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Subsector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
For public use:  
 
Fixed satellite services (including but not limited to  
CPC 7524**) 
  
 
 For non-public use (i.e. closed 
user groups ). 
 Fixed satellite services 
 
Trunked radio system services 
 
  
 
Teleconferencing services  
(CPC 75292) 
  
 
  
 
- Telecommunications 
equipment sales, rental, 
maintenance, connection, 
repair and consulting services  
 (CPC 75410-75450) 
  
 
1)  A licence is required under the Telecom.  Act 2001 
2)   None 
3)   A licence is required under the Telecom.   Act 2001 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
 
 
1)  A licence is required under the Telecom. 
 Act 2001 
2)  None 3)  A licence is required under the Telecom. 
Act 2001 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
 
 
1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
  
 
1)   None  
2)   None 
3)   None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
 1)  None 
2)  None 
3)  None  
 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
1)  None 
2)  None 
3)  None 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
  
 
1)  None 2)  None 
3)  None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
     TN/S/O/VCT
 Page 9Modes of supply: 1)   Cross-border 2)   Consumption abroad 3)   Commercial presence 4)   Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Subsector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
7. FINANCIAL SERVICES 
 
A. All insurance and 
insurance-related services  
 
 a. Life Insurance 
services 
   (CPC 81211) 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 b. Accident and Health 
Insurance Services  
   (CPC 81291)  
 
 
 
   
 
  
 
1) None 2) None 
3) Foreign companies have a paid-up share 
capital of not less than five million dollars, the capital to be fully paid up in cash.  
Mutual companies have uncommitted 
reserves of at least five million dollars.  
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
1) None 
2) None 
3) Foreign companies have a paid-up share 
capital of not less than five million dollars, 
the capital to be fully paid up in cash.  
Mutual companies have uncommitted 
reserves of at least five million dollars.  
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
  
 
  
 
1) None 2) None 
3) None 
  
 
 4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None  
 
 
 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
  
b. Reinsurance  
 (CPC 81299**)  1) None 
2) None 3) Subject to In
surance and Insurance Premium 
Act, Commercial Code, Exchange Control 
Act Foreign companies have a paid-up share 
capital of not less than five million dollars, 
the capital to be fully paid up in cash.  
Mutual companies have uncommitted reserves of at least five million dollars  
4) Subject to Work Permit Laws, Immigration 
Regulations, Medical Registration and 
Certificate, Medical Officers Ordinance as 
indicated in horizontal commitments  
Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  1) None 
2) None 3) Withholding Tax
 None 
 
  
 
  
4) None
 Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
   TN/S/O/VCT 
Page 10 Modes of supply: 1)   Cross-border 2)   Consumption abroad 3)   Commercial presence 4)   Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Subsector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
 
8. HEALTH RELATED 
SERVICES 
A. Hospital Services  
. (CPC 9311)  
 
 
 
1) None 
2) None 3) Subject to Commercial Code, Exchange 
Controls Act, Alien Landholding laws  
 None 
4) Subject to Work Permit Laws, Immigration 
Regulations, Medical Registration and 
Certification, Medical Officers Ordinance as 
indicated in horizontal commitments . 
 Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section   
 
 
 
1) None 
2) None 3) None 
 
 4) N
one  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section   
9. TOURISM AND 
TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES 
 Hotel and Resort 
Development  
 Hotel and Other 
Lodging Services 
 (CPC 641)  1) None 
2) None 3) Subject to Commercial Code, Exchange 
Controls Act, Hotels Pro prietor Act  
 Subject to Hotel Aid Act 
4) Limited to managerial and specialist levels; 
subject to Work Permit and Immigration 
Regulations as indicated in horizontal 
commitments . 
 Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 
 1) None 
2) None 3) Sub
ject to Withholding Tax  None  
 
4) None  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
 horizontal section      TN/S/O/VCT
 Page 11Modes of supply: 1)   Cross-border 2)   Consumption abroad 3)   Commercial presence 4)   Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Subsector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
10. RECREATIONAL, 
CULTURAL AND 
SPORTING SERVICES    
A. Entertainment Services  
 Other Entertainment 
services  
 (CPC 96191)  1) Limited by Laws dealing with Moral  Matters   
None  
2) None 
3) Subject to Commercial Code, Exchange 
Controls Act, Aliens Landholding Act  
 None 
4) Subject to Work Permit and Immigration 
Regulation as indicated in horizontal 
commitments . Unbound, except as indicated 
in the horizontal section 1) None 
 
2) None 
3) Subject to Withholding Tax   None  
 
 
4) None  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section   
D. Sporting Services  
 Sports event promotion 
services 
 (CPC 96411) 
 
 Sports events 
organization services 
 (CPC 96412) 
 
 Sports facility operation 
services 
  (CPC 96413) 
 
  
1) None 
2) None 3) Not applicable
  None  
4) Subject to Work Permit and Immigration 
Regulations   Unbound, except as indicated 
in the horizontal section   
1) None 
2) None 3) Not applicable
  None  
4) None  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section    TN/S/O/VCT 
Page 12 Modes of supply: 1)   Cross-border 2)   Consumption abroad 3)   Commercial presence 4)   Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Subsector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
11. TRANSPORT 
SERVICES  
A. Maritime Transport  
Services  
 Passenger & Freight 
Transportation Services 
 (CPC 7211, 7212; 
excludes cabotage) 
 
 
 
H.B. Services Auxiliary to all 
Modes of Transport  
 
 Transshipment Services 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) Subject to Exchange Control Act, 
Commercial Code   None  
4) Subject to Work Permit & Immigration 
Regulations as indicated in horizontal 
commitments.  Unbound, except as indicated 
in the horizontal section 
 
 
 
  
1) None 
2) None 3) Subject
 to Commercial Codes and Exchange 
Control Act  None 
4) Subject to Work Permit and Immigration 
Regulations as indicated in horizontal 
section.  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal secton  
  
 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) Withholding Tax
 None 
 
4) None  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
 
  
 
  
1) None 
2) None 3) Withholding Tax
 None  
 
4) None  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section  
 
     TN/S/O/VCT
 Page 13Modes of supply: 1)   Cross-border 2)   Consumption abroad 3)   Commercial presence 4)   Presence of natural persons 
Sector or Subsector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
 
 Storage services of 
frozen or refrigerated goods (CPC 7421) 
 Other storage or 
warehousing services (CPC 7429)  
  
  Free Zone Operations  
1) None 
2)  None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. 
 
 
  
1) None 
2) None 3) Subject to Commercial Codes and Exchange 
Control Act   None 
4) Subject to Work Permit and Immigration 
Regu lations as indicated in horizontal section   
Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section   
1) None 
2)  None 3) None 
4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. 
 
 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) Withholding Tax
 None  
 
4) None  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section    
 
 TN/S/O/VCT 
Page 14 
 
REFERENCE PAPER  
Scope  
 The following are definitions and principles on the regulatory framework for the basic telecommunications services.  Definitions
 
 Users
 mean service consumers and service suppliers. 
 Essential facilities
 mean facilities of a public telecommu nications transport network or service 
that 
 
(a) are exclusively or predominantly provided by  a single or limited number of 
suppliers; and 
 
(b) cannot feasibly be economically or technically substituted in order to provide a 
service. 
 
A major supplier  is a supplier which has the ability to ma terially affect the terms of participation 
(having regard to price and supply) in the relevant market for basic telecommunications services as a result of: 
   
(a) control over essential facilities; or 
 
(b) use of its position in the market. 
 
 
1. Competitive safeguards
 
 
1.1 Prevention of anti-competitive practices in telecommunications  
 
Appropriate measures shall be maintained for the purpose of preventing suppliers who, 
alone or together, are a major supplier from engaging in or continuing anti-competitive practices.  
1.2. Safeguards
 
 
The anti-competitive practices referred to above shall include in particular: 
 (a) engaging in anti-competitive cross-subsidization; 
 
(b) using information obtained from competitors with anti-competitive results; and 
 
(c) not making available to other services suppliers on a timely basis technical 
information about essential facilities and commercially relevant information which are necessary for them to provide services. 
 
 
  TN/S/O/VCT 
 Page 15 
2. Interconnection  
 
2.1 This section applies to linking with suppliers providing public telecommunications 
transport networks or services in order to allow the users of one supplier to communicate with 
users of another supplier and to access services provided by another supplier, where specific commitments are undertaken. 
 
2.2 Interconnection to be ensured
 
 Interconnection with a major supplier will be ensured at any technically feasible point in the network.  Such interconnection is provided. 
 
(a) under non-discriminatory terms, conditions (including technical standards   and specifications) and rates and of a quality no less favourable than that provided for its 
own like services or for like services of non-affiliated service suppliers or for its 
subsidiaries or other facilities; 
 (b) in a timely fashion, on terms, conditions (including technical standards and 
specifications) and cost-oriented rates that are transparent, reasonable, having regard to 
economic feasibility, and sufficiently unbundled so that the supplier need not pay for 
network components or facilities that it does not require for the service to be provided; 
and 
 (c) upon request, at points in addition to  the network termination points offered to 
the majority of users, subject to charges that  reflect the cost of construction of necessary 
additional facilities. 
 
2.3 Public availability of the procedure for interconnection negotiations
 
 
The procedures applicable for interconnection to a major supplier will be made publicly 
available. 
 
2.4 Transparency of interconnection arrangements  
 
 It is ensured that a major supplier will m ake publicly available either its interconnection 
agreements or a reference interconnection offer. 
2.5 Interconnection: dispute settlement  
 
A service supplier requesting interconnection with a major supplier will have recourse, 
either: TN/S/O/VCT 
Page 16 
(a) at any time or 
 
(b) after a reasonable period of time which has been made publicly known 
 
to an independent domestic body, which may be a regulatory body as referred to in  paragraph 5 below, to resolve disputed regarding appropriate terms, conditions and rates 
for interconnection within a reasonable period of time, to the extent that these have not 
been established previously.  
3. Universal service
 
 
Any Member has the right to define the kind of universal service obligation it wishes to 
maintain.  Such obligations will not regarded as anti-competitive per se , provided they are 
administered in a transparent, non-discriminatory  and competitively neutral manner and are not 
more burdensome than necessary for the kind of universal service defined by the Member. 
 
4. Public availability of licensing criteria  
 Where a licence is required, the following will be made publicly available:
 
 
(a) all the licensing criteria and the period of time normally required to reach  a decision 
concerning an application for a licence and 
 
(b) the terms and conditions of individual licences. 
 
  The reasons for the denial of a licence will be made known to the applicant upon 
request.  
5. Independent regulators
 
 
The regulatory body is separate from, and not accountable to, any supplier of basic 
telecommunications services.  The decisions of and the procedures used by regulators shall be impartial with respect  to all market participants. 
 
6. Allocation and use of scarce resources
 
 
Any procedures for the allocation and use of scarce resources, including frequencies, numbers and rights of way, will be carried out in an objective, timely, transparent and 
non-discriminatory manner.  The current state of allocated frequency bands will be made publicly available, but detailed identification of frequencies allocated for specific government uses in not required. 
 
__________