The region is making progress toward the full operation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), according to a new statement issued by the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community at the 11th Special Meeting of the Conference in Barbados.
The CSME issue became a hot-button one in The Bahamas earlier this year with Bahamians from various sectors and all sides of the political divide voicing strong objections to the regional agreement.
In the end, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell announced that the government will not be signing on to the agreement in its first term in office. His revelation in the House of Assembly was successful in “lowering the temperature” of the debate.
At their recent meeting, the heads agreed in principle to a procedure intended to bring the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas into force by January 1, 2006.
“The leaders agreed that this would be done with the utmost urgency,” the statement said.
The meeting received a report from the lead head of government with responsibility for the CSME, the Rt. Honourable Owen Arthur.
Prime Minister Arthur had been requested by the Conference of Heads of Government at their last regular meeting in Saint Lucia in July to conduct a visit to member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to discuss issues and measures which relate to implementation of the special and differential treatment provisions under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and which also related to their ability to meet the December 2005 deadline for the establishment of the Single Market.
These visits were extended to Belize, Guyana and Suriname who face particular challenges, the statement said.
Following the conduct of these visits by the prime minister and his technical team, and the consultative process with those member states, Prime Minister Arthur outlined his proposals and recommendations.
Based on those proposals and recommendations, the heads of government agreed that it was urgent to begin the operation of the Regional Development Fund as established in Chapter Seven of the Revised Treaty, the Caricom statement also said.
The leaders agreed that it was absolutely necessary that the Council for Finance and Planning (COFAP) meet on December 12, 2005 as scheduled to agree on measures to put the fund into operation.
The leaders also reportedly agreed that the fund needed to be made functional almost immediately. They noted that it needed to be of a substantial enough size to make an impact and that it was necessary that member states themselves contribute to the fund.
Caricom said that the heads of government, conscious of the need for structured institutional arrangements dedicated to delivering the assistance required by the OECS member states to benefit fully from the establishment of the CSME.
The heads also reportedly agreed to consider the establishment of a Regional Development Agency in an OECS country to plan, ensure and manage the rapid delivery of the technical assistance as envisaged by Chapter Seven of the Revised Treaty.
The Agency would, through consultation with the beneficiary countries, help to identify the specific areas for special and differential treatment and to provide such treatment through technical assistance in support of the development and operationalisation of the policy to increase capacity and promote international competitiveness among the OECS member states, according to the statement.
This agency would be established at no financial cost to the principal beneficiaries.
The heads of government welcomed the undertaking of the following member states – Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago – that they will be Single Market ready by December 31, 2005.
The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines had indicated its country’s readiness but was not represented at the meeting due to general elections being held in that country on the day of the meeting, the statement said.
The heads reportedly thought it prudent to await confirmation from the government.
It was also reported that the heads of government accepted the request from St. Kitts and Nevis for a deferment until January 31, 2006 to complete the parliamentary process.
The leaders also accepted the deferment requested by the Government of Grenada due to special circumstances. Heads of Government welcomed the undertaking of the Government of Grenada to complete the process and be fully compliant by March 31, 2006, the statement said.
Source: The Bahama Journal
