ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has agreed to establish a broad-based advisory team to guide negotiations with the United States (US) to accept a limited number of non-criminal third-country nationals and refugees.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Godwin Friday, said the request from Washington comes at a time of “profound geopolitical” uncertainty.

“We are in a time of profound geopolitical uncertainty, arguably the most consequential our region has faced in a generation. The wider tensions in our hemisphere hold profound implications for our security, our energy supply, the cost of living, our migration flows, and our diplomatic relations,” Friday told the 78th summit of the OECS which ended on Monday.