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DECLARATION OF ST. GEORGE ON 16TH JULY, 1979

Recognising with satisfaction that since popular Governments in Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia have taken office, the friendly relations between the three Governments and the people of the three countries have developed greatly on an new basis,

Confirming that the following Declaration constitutes the basis of the relations of peace, friendship and co-operation between the three countries and that the principles enunciated in the Declaration should be strictly observed.

Reaffirming that the principles of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, the Charter of the Organisation of American States and the Charter of the United Nations should be fully respected,

Hoping to contribute to peace, development, friendship and regional solidarity,

The governments of Grenada, Dominica and St. Lucia, meeting in St. George’s, Grenada between the 13th and 16th July, 1979,

Have declared as follows:

    • The Governments of Dominica, Grenada, and St. Lucia shall develop relations of perpetual peace and friendship among their three countries on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and regional solidarity
    • The three Governments shall, in the good-neighbourly and friendly spirit and in conformity with the principles of equality and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, endeavour to further develop economic, trade and cultural relations among their three countries and to promote exchanges between the people of the three countries
    • The three Governments are aware that the people of  their respective countries have placed them in office so that important Caribbean questions touching on the livelihood of the people may be looked at in a new perspective
    • The three Governments also recognise that popular democracy, respect for the rights of workers and social and economic justice for the masses must be the main objectives of their Governments
    • Any new Caribbean organisation must provide for and ensure maximum participation by the masses in the Region
    • The need for closer cooperation is recognised and in this respect arrangements should be made for more frequent consultation at the highest level and exchange of information to the mutual benefit of our countries
    • The Governments are not opposed in principle to the establishment of a regional military force provided its operations will be limited to the countering of external aggression, including the threat of invasion by mercenaries
    • The proposed Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States shall be brought into existence only after the widest possible consultation of and participation by the people of the three countries
    • The three Governments endorse an independent and nonaligned approach to foreign policy relations with all countries.  The Governments also condemn any attempts at destabilising governments of the Region by means of propaganda destabilisation, economic destabilisation or violent destabilisation.  The Governments particularly emphasise that the people of the Caribbean have a sovereign right to develop their countries in their own way and free from outside interference
    • The Governments oppose imperialism in all its forms, particularly the domination and oppression of developing countries by multi-national corporations and their Governments
    • The Governments strongly oppose all traces of colonialism in the region and internationally, and unequivocally support the right of all peoples to self-determination and national independence.  In this regard, the Governments particularly express their support for the granting of unconditional independence to Belize and reject the claim by Guatemala to ownership of part of the territory of Belize
    • The Governments also express their fullest support of the solidarity with the National Liberation Movements in Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa and Nicaragua
    • The Governments reconfirm their commitment to the principles of Caribbean integration, co-operation and unity.  In this regard, the decision in principle to allow entry by Caribbean nationals into their respective territories without the need for passports was taken.  The Governments also announce that they have already removed the bans imposed by the previous regimes on progressive persons in the region
    • The Governments support the holding of, and urgently call for a CARICOM Heads of Government Conference to be held later this year
    • The Governments affirm that the Caribbean area is one entity regardless of language differences, economic differences, separation by sea or other such considerations.  The Governments therefore emphasise the need for developing the closest possible relations between the islands and countries in the Caribbean regardless whether they are English, Dutch, Spanish or French speaking
    • The Governments agree to organize the exchange of all information on oil exploration and the law of the sea and to develop energy policies, including appropriate legislation for the three states
    • The Governments support the position of those countries calling for the creation of an international body to explore the resources of the deep sea for the mutual benefit of all countries as opposed to their exploitation by Multi-National Corporations for the benefit of a small minority and support the call by the third world for a New International Economic Order
    • The Governments identify themselves with the movement in support of disarmament and an end to the arms race and regret the wasteful expenditure of funds in this regard.  It is felt that these funds could best be used to aid developing countries.  The Governments further identify themselves with the struggle for world peace and the settling of disputes by peaceful means.  In particular, the Governments condemn the use or the threat of force by some countries as a means of bullying other countries
    • And to assist in the achievement of the above objectives, the three Governments hereby establish a Consultative Commission of Ministers to co-ordinate the implementation of the decisions of this Mini-Summit and to communicate such decisions to other governments of the Caribbean
  • The Governments also establish a Technical Commission of experts to examine, evaluate and make recommendations on all technical matters related to the strengthening of trade, agricultural, agro-industrial and other economic and technical co-operation among our three countries, among the CARICOM LDC’s and within CARICOM generally

DECLARED this 16th day of July, 1979 at St. George’s in Grenada.

      Sgd.  Oliver Seraphine     


For the Government of Dominica

     Sgd.  Maurice Bishop  


For the Government of Grenada

      Sgd Allan Louisy          
For the Government of St. Lucia


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