THE difficulties, with which Governments and people of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have been confronted, demanded strength of character and resilience, which have been demonstrated.

And moving forward, former Chairman of CARICOM, Gaston Browne, contends that regional integration and cooperation must be strengthened.
“As a Region we have put our heads together to seek solutions to the problems and have identified strategies to pursue which would put us on a path to growth and development and, importantly, create jobs,” Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister said.
According to him, this is imperative considering that the lingering effects of the global economic and financial crises, heavy debt burdens, high unemployment and low growth have had a negative impact on the lives and standard of living of people in CARICOM.

INTEGRATION’S SUCCESS
Browne noted that CARICOM’s first-ever Five-Year Strategic Plan is an example of how the Caribbean Community has been able time and again, to find its own solutions to overcome its problems – an example of integration’s success.
“From CARIFTA to Common Market to Single Market and Economy, we have made economic strides. Through CXC, PANCAP and CDEMA we have successfully devised our own solutions to education, health and disaster management issues. Our Regional security apparatus has served us with distinction. We have proven beyond a doubt that we are capable of devising appropriate measures to help ourselves,” he said.

The former CARICOM Chairman added that these are a clear indication that the Region’s best efforts were as a result of acting as an “integrated” unit.
He said, “The collective intelligence and creativity of our people has ensured that our Caribbean civilisation has thrived despite the setbacks and it is to that we have turned again to combat our current challenges.”
On that note, Browne lauded the efforts of CARICOM’s leaders, who have been urged on by the Region’s people, in confronting the obstacles of 2014.
“Together, we can, and will, not only survive but thrive, by enhancing our collective capacity to achieve economic stability and growth, a better quality of life for our people and sustainable development,” the former CARICOM Chair concluded.