THE APPARENT ‘dead-end’ path, along which CARICOM, as the region’s economic integration movement, finds itself, in a cul-de-sac, is now provoking more than mere whispers of dissatisfaction among government officials in the margins of various regional/international meetings.
One suspects that with big events of ‘new-era’ politics in Trinidad & Tobago, the ‘Dudus’ Coke-inspired slayings and barricades in Jamaica, or emergence of a ‘power dilemma’ in Suriname with former coup-leader Desi Bouterse as President-in-waiting, political awakenings of unprecedented uncertainty are in the making.
Sad to say, the widespread sense in many quarters of the ‘older’ political directorate of CARICOM, and certainly of CARIFORUM, is one of growing dissatisfaction and disappointment.
An emerging impression is the absence of new thinking, openness to exploring prospects for revitalization of CARICOM, growing uncertainty and indifference on the part of many Heads of Government, as well as on the part of the current executive management at the Secretariat.
A generally disconcerting view is the minimal evidence that the region is yet to systematically articulate key foreign policy and development options that the Caribbean needs to pursue to break out of economic stagnation and growing indebtedness while capitalizing on new trade opportunities.
This is widely acknowledged and publicly stated, as was done recently by a Delegate of the European Union in regard to tardiness of the Community Secretariat in accessing and implementing available development assistance, with the risk of losing funding so badly needed.

Overcoming a deep-seated quandary?
Not so long ago, a former head of the Barbados Foreign Service voiced his frustrations with CARICOM, and queried what fundamental difference did CARICOM make in addressing the complex issues of the multi-polar world order. This was regarded as most disappointing in an era of global capitalism, in which small countries had to swim or sink by their wits of ingenuity and innovation.
In his view, to abandon the CARICOM ship might better serve Barbados’ survival in the sea of turbulent uncertainty. This may be a view that is more widespread than one would like to acknowledge. I would not be surprised if such a view is silently felt, even at some level of the Community’s central political directorate — Heads of Government.
As a casual  observer outside the region, I am persuaded that the time has long past when CARICOM Heads can avoid decisive, deliberate, and well-informed action to rethink, recommit and recommend a course of action for what they wish regional integration to achieve, and what must be the role of the Secretariat in facilitating that achievement.
For the latter, a fundamental overhaul, based on a performance management audit, is essential and urgent. This may involve, for a start, creation of a ‘search committee’ to set in motion a succession to the current incumbents of the executive management at the Community Secretariat.
Heads of Government would do well to be honest to their leadership responsibilities and pursue a calm, considered process to reverse the decline, and help reinvigorate a faltering regional integration movement. The general crisis on the horizon can be averted, and their forthcoming annual summit, scheduled for next month in Montego Bay, Jamaica, can be a golden opportunity to begin the process for changing the culture of management of CARICOM.  The usual one-day retreat with a concise agenda can help to move this process forward.
To continue choosing an option of ‘marking time’ is not only escapist and self-defeating, but also shirking their obligations to make a reality of  the highly desirable CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Work Plan
My suggestion would be for the proposed one-day retreat of Heads at the coming CARICOM Summit in Montego Bay to cover at least the following three areas:
* First, the Single Development Vision for Investment, Jobs and Trade. A start in this regard has already been made, and to carry it forward, a small Task Force would be adequate.
* Secondly, a ‘harmonized’ foreign policy engagement with our strategic allies needs to be hammered out. This cannot be done in one meeting, but a ‘Position Paper’ can be commissioned from the UWI’s Institute of International Relations, with a core team that could also include personnel from the University Madre y Maestra of the Dominican Republic and the University of Havana, as well as eminent Caribbean scholars, wherever located.
* Thirdly, a comprehensive and definitive programme on ‘Financing the Regional Integration Movement’ has to be addressed, taking account of the “automacity of contributions” from member states.
The core and essential costs for a modern, lean and effective Secretariat, properly financed, seems a prerequisite to overcoming the growing sense of drifting that now burdens the region.
This bring us full circle to why new management with new blood and a cohesive team in the CARICOM Secretariat is prerequisite to moving forward. To continue with the old entrenched bureaucrats, for whom the Heads continue to nod a polite respect but expect no purposeful implementation of decisions, is just an excuse for their own failure to be responsible.
(Phil Pascal is an overseas-based management consultant and occasional contributor to the Guyana Chronicle.)