Montserrat Sharpens its Capacity to Effectively Monitor, Investigate and Address Issues of Anti-Competitive Conduct With Other OECS Member States

Montserrat will benefit from the introduction of a short course on competition law as part of plans by the Oganization of the Eastern Caribbean States.. OECS to advance trade in the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union.

On Wednesday, December 1, the OECS Commission in collaboration with the University of the West Indies Shridath Ramphal Centre (UWI-SRC) and the Centre for Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (CPDLL) officially launched the short course on Competition Law.

The course is being funded under the OECS - ACP TradeCom II Project and will run from 1st - 14th of December.

19 practioners will be trained across the 7 OECS Protocol Member States namely: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 

Montserrat is being represented by Principal Trade and Quality Infrastructure Officer Adena Johnson.

The virtual training is expected to improve the capacity of trade and legal practitioners to effectively monitor, investigate and address issues of anti-competitive conduct within Member States, helping to improve the business environment to encourage proper business conduct and a better consumer experience in the OECS.

The course is also intended to improve the skills of participants to identify possible anti-competitive conducts taking place in markets; evaluate complaints and identify those that fall under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and those that do not; gather information and evidence in support of investigations and market studies and; to engage in advocacy. 

At the end of the virtual course, participants will have a sound understanding of the prohibitions under the Caribbean Community Competition Law and the reasons why such regulations are not only important but needed, in the micro-economies of the OECS.