The World - News from Nov. 27, 1988

The prime minister of St. Lucia says seven Eastern Caribbean countries should unite to increase their economic clout. John Compton, citing the U.S.-Canada free trade agreement and the success of the European Common Market, said, “The longer we hesitate (to form a political union), the more difficult the task becomes.” Compton, speaking at a meeting of the seven-nation Organization of Eastern Caribbean States in St. Lucia, is the strongest supporter for combining his country, St. Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, St. Kitts, the British colony of Montserrat and Antigua. The latter opposes unification. The six supporting nations signed a pact in 1987 for a political union, but there has been little action except for an integrated economy and a common currency.