SECRETARY-GENERAL of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque is seeking ways to build and strengthen the relationship between the private sector and the Community. During a meeting with representatives of the Barbados Private Sector, Wednesday last in Bridgetown, Ambassador LaRocque said the private sector was a critical partner in building the Community.
The Secretary-General was on a four-day official visit to Barbados during which he met with Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart; Foreign Minister, Senator Maxine McLean, representatives of the Youth, Private Sector and the Media, as well as visited regional institutions based in Barbados.
The Secretary-General told the meeting that a key focus area was the building of competitiveness so that the Community’s private sector could take advantage of the opportunities provided by the trade deals negotiated by the governments as well as being prepared to compete with the influx of products from outside the Community.
He said the public and private sectors had to work together in that regard.
Mr. John Williams, head of the Barbados Private Sector Association said that business had taken over the integration movement with the growth of Pan-Caribbean firms.
He pointed out however, that the regulatory framework in the region had not developed in tandem with that growth.
He urged the Secretary-General to assist in building the competitiveness through working with the private sector to minimise the administrative processes needed to conduct business in the Community.