SECRETARY General of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin La Rocque has challenged member States to move swiftly to consolidate and strengthen the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) while underscoring the importance of collectively engaging  the global market, particularly in these changing times. He threw out the challenge yesterday during the opening session of the 34th meeting of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) at Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara, where delegates converged to discuss a range of issues, including the examination of recommendations to ease the effects of the rising cost of fuel and commodities on the Region’s economies, which is high on the agenda.
La Rocque acknowledged that the meeting is being held at a time when the entire Community is in a mode of reform and change, as members seek to make a more meaningful impact on the lives of the people of the region.
“The ability of citizens to enjoy the benefits of integration should serve as an impetus for us to ensure that we resolve, urgently, the outstanding issues that hinder community nationals, including the Private Sector, from taking full advantage of the Single Market Economy. These issues affect not only the daily lives and operations but also the public perception of inertia and slothfulness involving the integration movement,” he said.
Additionally, the Secretary General pointed to the importance of examining the operations of the Common External Tariff (CET), which, he said, is an issue that has occupied the time of the Council in recent years.
In this regard, he reminded that it is important to recognise that the Community is operating in a rules based environment as enshrined in the various provisions of the revised Treaty and as interpreted by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

OBJECTIVES
“To some extent, this is new territory in the manner in which COTED conducts affairs. However, the framer of the Treaty, I am sure, must have intended that this Council could be enabled to, legitimately, manage the regimes that it has been through in seeking to reach the objectives of the committee,” he said.
Further, Ambassador La Rocque expressed confidence that it is not beyond the capacity of the Council to find solutions to some of the existing problems while keeping within the framework of the Treaty and encouraged all to “put their house in order” as they continue to fight to ensure that the international community takes account of “our special circumstances.”
He said: “The need for this becomes all the more apparent as we continue to move ahead with the negotiations for the conclusion of the trade and development agreement with Canada and commence preparations for re-engaging the Dominican Republic on the implementation of the CARICOM/Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement. Further, the Trade and Investment Council with the United States, which has been dormant for some time, would be meeting in Georgetown at the point when the exports to the United States, under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI)  and its related acts, have been threatened.”
In closing, La Rocque urged those present to approach the two days of discussion “in the spirit of community”.
COTED Chairman, Mr. Colin McIntyre extended a warm welcome to all of the representatives, particularly those who were there for their first meeting and acknowledged that the meeting is taking place when CARICOM is undergoing a period of introspection.
According to him, it is a time to ask serious questions relating to how, as an integrated group, the Council should organise to deliver goods and services to the people to promote their interest and welfare.

INTROSPECTION
“The next twelve months promises to, bring interesting times and development to the region. Today, at this meeting of COTED, we will continue on the process of introspection as we agree to approach our work in the most direct manner, going to the heart of the issues brought before us and decision making,” he said.
McIntyre advised delegates to “never put off for tomorrow what they can do today” as they approach discussions on the strategy of COTED and examine its target, direction and focus.
Alluding to key matters to be addressed at the forum, he said: “One of the matters on the agenda is the full integration of Belize and the OECS into CARICOM and CSME. I hope that arrangements can be made and instructions given with respect to the familiarisation of an implementation plan and finalisation as well, of work programmes and financing proposals. All CARICOM members must participate fully in the CSME, all discussions will take place against the background of the fall of the global financial and economic crisis and the debt situation being experienced in Europe.”
Mc Intyre said, in the context of the global situation, he advised the Council members to deal with these expanded economic activities, including intra-regional trade among themselves, in the spirit of mutual reliance, even as they discuss the agenda items and the  role of  the regional institutions in ensuring the effectiveness of CSME.
The 34th meeting of COTED continues through today and the Council members will deliberate on a number of issues, among them the examination of recommendations to ease the effects of the rising cost of fuel and commodities on the Region’s economies.
The Ministers will also look at regional consumer protection and the recommendations from the report on the full integration of Belize and the OECS into the CSME.
With respect to external economic trade relations, discussions will focus on the CARICOM-Canada Trade and Development Agreement and the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed between the Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (CARIFORUM) and the European Union (EU).
Discussions will also surround trade with other third States, including China, Costa Rica and Panama and the lengthy agenda also includes discussion on COTED’s input with respect to restructuring the CARICOM Secretariat.