. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/MIN(11)/ST/107 
16 December 2011  
 
(11-6812) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Eighth Session Geneva, 15 - 17 December 2011 Original:   English 
 
  
SAINT LUCIA 
 
Statement by Hon. Alva Baptiste 
Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation 
on behalf of the Member States of the OECS 
 
 
Allow me to extend my thanks to the Govern ment of Switzerland for hosting this Eighth 
Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference and to th e Director-General for his steadfast efforts at 
advancing the work of the WTO.  
At the outset, permit me to take this oppor tunity to associate my Delegation with the 
Statements delivered by, Trinidad and Tobago on be half of CARICOM, and Ba rbados on behalf of 
the SVEs and also those statements to be delivered  by, other Organization of Eastern Caribbean States 
Members. 
 
The convening of this Ministerial Conference is set against the backdrop of the realisation of 
a major milestone in the regional integration process embarked upon by OECS members namely: 
Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Luci a, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines. 
 
Since the last convening of the WTO Ministeria l Conference, the OECS has entered into an 
Economic Union, the realization of this goal is seen as establishing the platform for expanding and 
enhancing economic and trade opportunities for Members and , also, as a key response to the ever 
looming challenges resulting from a hostile  external economic environment.  
 
We recognize the value and importance of supporting a functioning, fair, rules-based 
multilateral trading system. It is only in this co ntext that small economies can truly bridge the 
structural economic gaps that continue to frustra te and impede our full integration into the global 
economy . In order to attain the allied goals of full er integration and participation in the global 
economy , it remains of critical importance to preserve a fully transparent and inclusive multilateral 
trading system, where the interests of the smallest are treated with the same  level of priority and 
importance as those issues that occupy  the minds of the most powerful.  
 
For this reason, OECS Member States strongly support the strengthening of the Work 
Programme on Small Economies as key to mainstr eaming development in trade. Thus, the OECS 
supports all efforts directed at attenuating supply- side constraints faced by Members and encourage 
the scaling-up of Aid-for-trade support.   
In conclusion, Saint Lucia and other OECS Me mbers continue to hold firm to the Doha 
Ministerial Declaration which placed development at the heart of the Round. Therefore a development 
outcome in each of the negotiating areas remains the raison d’être of the Round. For this reason the WT/MIN(11)/ST/107 
Page 2  
 
  OECS is deeply concerned and disappointed th at the DDA, which was heralded as the round to 
redress systemic inequities has yet to yiel d the much touted development dividend. 
 
Saint Lucia takes note of suggestions that new approaches may need to be explored towards 
finding a pathway to concluding the Round. We re cognize that orthodoxy and prevailing paradigms 
are not immutable and that open-minded and pragmati c solutions should be given some consideration. 
We are adamant that these solutions should not underm ine the core tenets of the system which have 
already been agreed and accepted by all.  
The long-delayed conclusion to the Round is not due to unwillingness on the part of small 
vulnerable economies like Saint Lucia, nor is it the result of inaction on the part of the poorest.  
However, it is undoubtedly clear that the serial failure  to deliver on the promises of Doha continues to 
frustrate our goals of poverty alleviation and ec onomic growth. Chair, we therefore call on all 
members to put mercantilist ambitions aside and wo rk towards an outcome that will redound to the 
advantage of all. 
 
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