.png)
That the people of the Caribbean share an historic bond is irrefutable. This history, forged on the cruel anvil of brutal plantation slavery, represents an array of factors, such as decades of European domination, and the dehumanisation of millions of hapless victims. The system of indentureship, though not as brutal, was but a milder form of degradation that thankfully came to an end in 1917.
It is this shared experience that has bequeathed to this geographical space a striking similarity in the construct of social and economic policies, and a uniqueness of culture that is inescapably Caribbean. It’s a trait that is also inherent to Guyana, in that although not geographically part of the Anglophone Caribbean proper, it is undoubtedly part of a common evolutionary process.
Needless to say, it was this direct influence that led to the quest for integration among Caribbean island states, beginning with the abortive bid at Federation that ended in 1962; and, ever mindful of lessons learnt from that first attempt, followed by CARIFTA (Caribbean Free Trade Area) in 1967; and lastly to what is definitely the commencement of the modern structure of Caribbean unity: The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) on July 4, 1973.
It was this vision of a common outlook that was imbued in the minds of the Founding Fathers, all former prime ministers (Forbes Burnham of Guyana; Dr. Eric Williams of Trinidad and Tobago; Errol Barrow of Barbados; and Michael Manley of Jamaica) when they signed the original Treaty of Chaguaramas that officially brought CARICOM into being.
Undoubtedly, it was the vision and hope of those long departed leaders that the Region, through a unified Regional movement, would be able to maximise their political, social and economic potential for the cumulative benefit of the Region’s peoples. Above all, they envisaged the formation of institutions that would function in accordance with the needs of the Region.
It has been 40 years since the historic birth of the current Regional movement,and how well the movement has progressed can only be judged by the outpouring of comments that ranged from outright hostility and pessimism, not too hopeful, to bright optimism.
What’s instructive to note is that the integration process has now deepened to the important stage of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy(CSME) that includes the critical aspect of free movement of goods and services; right of establishment, whereby CARICOM-owned businesses are permitted to be established in any member state; free movement of capital, that removes foreign exchange controls; and free movement of labour, that serves to remove the necessity for work permits.
For an objective understanding as to the progress of this stage of the CSME, one must examine the workings of the latter component of the single market. It is a given that the lynchpin of any integration movement is the free movement of human resources throughout the defined geographical space. Though there has been some success with qualified nationals, under the protocols of the CSME, there are still issues with the acquisition of work permits, and accreditation of university degrees.
But the sore point specifically surrounds the known hostility of some member states to visitors. The accounts of travellers being shabbily treated, and even physically manhandled at sister CARICOM countries’ airports reflect a Region that is still traditionally parochial in its outlook and understanding of what integration is all about. The responsibility for this insular outlook must be blamed on the lack of political will exhibited on the part of many of the Region’s leaders. One island-state prime minister is on record as saying that his island is too small to admit migrant workers. He failed to take into consideration the benefits that his island can derive from admitting such skilled persons.
Those member states, known for their anti-integration actions, should understand that the success of any integration movement is its human resources, that are integral to the success of the Region in which they are found. They should also recognise that the CSME is about deepening the integration movement, and taking advantage of the challenges of globalisation. Therefore, to constantly erect no-entry barriers to nationals of any member state is to impede the progress of the CSME, which means the very islands themselves.
Hence, CARICOM is on trial.
It is this shared experience that has bequeathed to this geographical space a striking similarity in the construct of social and economic policies, and a uniqueness of culture that is inescapably Caribbean. It’s a trait that is also inherent to Guyana, in that although not geographically part of the Anglophone Caribbean proper, it is undoubtedly part of a common evolutionary process.
Needless to say, it was this direct influence that led to the quest for integration among Caribbean island states, beginning with the abortive bid at Federation that ended in 1962; and, ever mindful of lessons learnt from that first attempt, followed by CARIFTA (Caribbean Free Trade Area) in 1967; and lastly to what is definitely the commencement of the modern structure of Caribbean unity: The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) on July 4, 1973.
It was this vision of a common outlook that was imbued in the minds of the Founding Fathers, all former prime ministers (Forbes Burnham of Guyana; Dr. Eric Williams of Trinidad and Tobago; Errol Barrow of Barbados; and Michael Manley of Jamaica) when they signed the original Treaty of Chaguaramas that officially brought CARICOM into being.
Undoubtedly, it was the vision and hope of those long departed leaders that the Region, through a unified Regional movement, would be able to maximise their political, social and economic potential for the cumulative benefit of the Region’s peoples. Above all, they envisaged the formation of institutions that would function in accordance with the needs of the Region.
It has been 40 years since the historic birth of the current Regional movement,and how well the movement has progressed can only be judged by the outpouring of comments that ranged from outright hostility and pessimism, not too hopeful, to bright optimism.
What’s instructive to note is that the integration process has now deepened to the important stage of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy(CSME) that includes the critical aspect of free movement of goods and services; right of establishment, whereby CARICOM-owned businesses are permitted to be established in any member state; free movement of capital, that removes foreign exchange controls; and free movement of labour, that serves to remove the necessity for work permits.
For an objective understanding as to the progress of this stage of the CSME, one must examine the workings of the latter component of the single market. It is a given that the lynchpin of any integration movement is the free movement of human resources throughout the defined geographical space. Though there has been some success with qualified nationals, under the protocols of the CSME, there are still issues with the acquisition of work permits, and accreditation of university degrees.
But the sore point specifically surrounds the known hostility of some member states to visitors. The accounts of travellers being shabbily treated, and even physically manhandled at sister CARICOM countries’ airports reflect a Region that is still traditionally parochial in its outlook and understanding of what integration is all about. The responsibility for this insular outlook must be blamed on the lack of political will exhibited on the part of many of the Region’s leaders. One island-state prime minister is on record as saying that his island is too small to admit migrant workers. He failed to take into consideration the benefits that his island can derive from admitting such skilled persons.
Those member states, known for their anti-integration actions, should understand that the success of any integration movement is its human resources, that are integral to the success of the Region in which they are found. They should also recognise that the CSME is about deepening the integration movement, and taking advantage of the challenges of globalisation. Therefore, to constantly erect no-entry barriers to nationals of any member state is to impede the progress of the CSME, which means the very islands themselves.
Hence, CARICOM is on trial.
