Shortly after a night-time touchdown at the Million Air Fixed Base Operation at Nassau International Airport, after spending five days at the 24th Caribbean Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Montego Bay, Jamaica, he said that the leaders acknowledged however, the "special differences" in the Bahamian economy, and its "special relationship" with the United States.
One of the most critical and "vexing" issues, he said, was the Bahamas becoming a full-fledged member of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), which would allow the free movement of certain categories of workers between Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states.
Mr. Christie said also, that while The Bahamas has not ratified an agreement to establish a Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which would replace the United Kingdom-based Privy Council as Commonwealth countries' final court of appeal, certain constitutional changes would have to be made, and The Bahamas has "agreed to begin the process."
On June 9, at a ceremony boycotted by the Opposition Party, Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, reiterating his objection to holding a referendum on the matter, announced that Jamaica had followed in the footsteps of 46 other Commonwealth countries, and ratified the CCJ.
"The abolition of this vestigial colonial institution…will complete the process of attaining full sovereign status," Mr. Patterson was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, back in Nassau, Prime Minister Christie said that CARICOM heads are "encouraging," but also exercising a great deal of understanding with regard to The Bahamas carefully evaluating its stance on becoming fully integrated in the regional grouping.
"They know that there are very special differences that exist in our economy," he said. "They understand the connection with the United States of America economically and how that impacts our policy. They have been prepared to truly assist The Bahamas in arriving at whatever agreements and arrangements we need to be sitting at the table.
While in Jamaica, he said, he was able to explain The Bahamas' position on the CSME, as well as indicate that the country has brought a "clear focus" to the issues that separate The Bahamas from joining the CSME. He further stated that The Bahamas has "harmonized" its efforts through the appointment of a trade commission, but is still opposed to the free movement of skilled persons.
"We are not yet ready to seek any special exemptions or any reservations on this particular issue, because we have not yet in our view, done sufficient with understanding where we are on the matter and having the full consultation that we promised," he said.
In regards to tariffs, Mr. Christie said, "conservable" work has been carried out and The Bahamas is making significant progress. He added however, that in an effort to ensure that Caribbean leaders further assist The Bahamas through national dialogue, the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mr. Owen Arthur, who is the lead Prime Minister on the subject of the single market and economy, has agreed to visit Nassau on July 20.
"He will come and he has the responsibility for the issue amongst heads and will discuss with the private and public sector and trade issues, the issues. He will also be open to giving us advice and respond to any questions that come up," he said.
Also at the airport on Saturday, the Prime Minister pointed out that CARICOM heads while in Jamaica, have also taken note of the progress being made on the establishment of a Caribbean Court of Justice and there is now "considerable focus" on inaugurating the court as early as this year.
This Court, he said, would be an "originating jurisdiction" as well as a final court of appeal.
"Countries like The Bahamas and like St. Vincent, for example, that have in its Constitution, the requirement for appeals to the Privy Council, obviously will have to go through constitutional changes, if it would accede to the Court. In our case, we have not yet agreed to participate in the court, even though we have agreed to begin the process," he said, adding that as The Bahamas is about to begin work with the Constitutional Commission, it would be an ideal time to discuss the Caribbean Court of Justice with the public.
"We propose during this summer, to initiate or further our discussions with a view to The Bahamas arriving at a position that is consistent with our interests in being full members of Caricom," Mr. Christie said.
CARICOM, with headquarters in Georgetown Guyana, came into force on August 1, 1973, established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which was signed on July 4, 1973, by the prime ministers of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
It replaced the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), which was founded in 1965, setting up a common external market for members of the Caribbean Common Market.
With the Heads of Government Conference – held annually – the organisation's main decision- making body (which all must be made unanimously), the group has three primary objectives, namely Economic cooperation; coordination of foreign policy ; and cooperation in areas such as education, health, and tax administration.
The Bahamas joined in 1983, but, among other reservations, does not subscribe to the Common Market agreement.
But athough The Bahamas is not ready to become a full-fledged member of Caricom, Mr. Christie said, there has been significant participation in other areas, such as housing, affiliation with the University of The West Indies, in addition to a tourism school.
The Bahamas has also offered to facilitate CARICOM through other means, he said, noting that the Minister of Tourism is presently the Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
Making reference to the "vexing" issue of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy, Mr. Christie said, "It is really the essence of the focus that we are bringing to bear. As we make application to the World Trade Organization (WTO), we have to take into consideration the necessary changes that will have to be made as a result of being members of that organisation."
He said that while in Jamaica, Caricom Prime Ministers had a working lunch with the Director of the World Trade Organization, and found it interesting to hear some Ministers say that membership in the WTO had not benefited their countries to the extent expected.
"As you know, our application is pending," he said, "but some of them are very strong on the necessary reviews taking place on the incentives that they (WTO) have in place to attract investment and the rules of the WTO that require the elimination of preferential features."
Mr. Christie said that the announcement of recent investments in The Bahamas, along with future future ones, were given a variety of incentives, indicating a concentrated focus on the advantages that small island-nations ought to be seeking and gaining from entry into world trading groups.
"The Bahamas has indicated yet again, that our applications are intended to bring about a net advantage to The Bahamas," he said, "and we are only interested in being members if there is a very clear view that there is a net advantage. It does not make sense to go into organisations where the country suffers."
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
