–Time for some action regional leaders urge

By Svetlana Marshall in Jamaica
REGIONAL leaders were urged to do more than just talk and take action when the 39th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) opened Wednesday at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Jamaica.

The call has specifically to do with the reticence in some quarters to implement the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) and other critical initiatives, and came from CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness; Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne; and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley.

Holness said that with CARICOM turning 45, it is only fitting that the 15-member community pause and reflect not only on its achievements, but the challenges that they’ve faced as well along the road to regional integration.

Contending that the CSME is undoubtedly the single most significant regional initiative that has occupied the attention of member states since its inception in 2003, Prime Minister Holness, who himself turns 46 later this month, said its progress has not been commensurate with the region’s aspiration.

Noting that Jamaica is as committed now as it has ever been over the years, Holness, reputedly the youngest prime minister Jamaica has ever had, said:
“I take this opportunity to reaffirm Jamaica’s commitment to the principle objectives of CARICOM, including the expansion of trade and investment opportunities for its members, the promotion of foreign policy coordination and structural functional cooperation.”

Under the theme “Building Stronger Resilient and Secured Partnerships for Prosperity”, Holness, whose forte is management and development studies, said that as chairman of the 15-member bloc, he is calling on all member states to summon the necessary political will and determination to ensure that all programmes and initiatives are strategically focused and geared towards meeting an ambitious process of reform.

He told regional leaders that in light of the ever-changing global dynamics, it is imperative that they conduct a thorough assessment to determine whether the Community is appropriately positioned to collectively advance economic corporation for mutual benefits for the region’s people.

GOLDING REPORT
With reference to the Bruce Golding Commission Report, Prime Minister Holness said the Jamaican Parliament has adopted a landmark resolution, which, among other things, underscores the importance of CARICOM Member States making a clear commitment to establish the Single Market by putting in place measurable and verifiable programmes of actions in place to fulfil all outstanding obligations.

On that score, he said that Jamaica is proposing a period of five years for implementation, as no longer can the materialisation of the Single Market and Economy be delayed.
Noting that the young people of the region are calling on their leaders to be accountable, Prime Minister Holness said:

“It is my considered view that the single market is a victim our own reluctance to fully and functionally establish the CSME…
“As I have often stated, the CSME is the ultimate manifestation of regional integration; some of its pillars represent the only real means by which our citizens will experience the process of integration.

“We must, therefore, as leaders of this great community relentlessly pursue the goal of overcoming our implementation deficit.”
Taking up the charge was Prime Minister Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, who said that members states must do all in their power to ensure the success of the Community, as the unity of the region is the salvation of its people.

“Integration is not only desirable but inescapable; but it has been 53 long years since the flame of integration was reunited at Dickenson Bay from the ashes of the West Indies Federation,” he said.

“Surely in 53 years, we should have been further along the road to economic integration than we are now; others started after us, yet they have gallop ahead,” Prime Minister Browne added, as he cited the European Union (EU) as a fitting example of what he was referring to.

He is convinced that after 53 years of “crawling” through the process of integration, disappointment has replaced hope, and skepticism has overwhelmed faith.
But all is not lost, he urged his colleages, as the conference has provided an opportunity for they as regional leaders to turn the tide around.

“We have a chance at this summit to change that situation, and to restore trust and confidence in the people that we can make and implement joint decisions that would improve their lives; that we can do more than talk; that we can take action,” he posited.

UNIFIED ACTIONS
Before taking his leave, Prime Minister Browne called for unified actions in achieving the Single Market and Economy, emphasising that the time for action is now.

Delivering what will be her maiden address at a Heads of Government summit since taking office on May 25 this year, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, the first woman to have ever held that position on the island, said it is no secret that Barbados is in a state of deep economic crisis.

But even with its current state of affairs, she said, the Government of Barbados is unequivocally committed to the cause of regional integration, and ready to play its full and active part within the Caribbean Community in moving the process forward.
“We consider it an integral part of our future,” the firebrand politician assured her regional colleagues, adding:

“As for myself, I am more than eager to get to work in my capacity as Lead Head for the CSME. It is a serious responsibility and I intend, absolutely, to treat it as such.”
But sadly, enthused though she is, Prime Minister Mottley said, many of the same structural, legal and administrative impediments to implementing the CSME are still with us.

“We certainly do not lack for studies to tell us what is wrong,” she said, adding:
“Sadly, these can sometimes serve, inadvertently, to reinforce the cynicism and pessimism that we as leaders have allowed to dampen our natural enthusiasm for the idea of integration.

“More and more I find myself asking: Why are we so obsessed with diagnosing what is wrong? When last have we looked to our own people and their actions to show us what is right?”

Prime Minister Mottley said the people’s interest must remain paramount in discussions on trade and regulations. Turning her attention to regional travel, the Barbadian Prime Minister said that while interaction among our Caribbean people strengthens regional integration, it is rather unfortunate that this, too, is being stifled.

“A Single Domestic Space for hassle-free travel in a sense presupposes the existence of a Single Domestic Space for Transportation,” she said.

“Something is, therefore, fundamentally wrong when travel to Miami or New York is more accessible and cost-effective for our people than travel to their nearest Caribbean neighbour. We simply have to do better,” she added.

MAJOR SHAREHOLDER
As the major shareholder in LIAT, PM Mottley, who first entered at 26, said the Government of Barbados remains committed to working assiduously with its other partner governments to enhance the airline’s operations and profitability, while simultaneously offering an affordable and reliable service to the region’s people.

“To get the full benefit of our common space in the movement of people, cargo and vehicles,” she said, “renewed and focused leadership is also called for to translate the much-studied inter-island ferry service from concept to reality; to move beyond talk and to actively encourage investment by our private sector to unlock new categories of travelers.”

For CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, this 39th HOG confab provides another opportunity to have, once again, a historic moment in Montego Bay with respect to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
“Since the CSME was inaugurated here in Jamaica 12 years ago,” he said, “we all agree that much has been accomplished under its regimes.

“But we have not achieved as much as we should have by now; major policy decisions and adoption of legal instruments take much too long to be negotiated.
“We must do more, and do it more quickly; the success of the CSME is being judged by the public, on the basis of our implementation of the measures agreed to, that allow our citizens and businesses to benefit,” he implored the regional leaders.

A special session on the CSME has been set to address its effectiveness.
Despite the challenges, he said Member States have agreed that the CSME remain the most viable option and platform to enable the Community and its nationals to achieve their goals of sustainable growth and development but underscored the need for substantial improvement.

“They expressed particular concern about the ease of doing business and the movement of skilled nationals. The participants also lamented the lack of compliance with already agreed measures. They stressed the need for an enforcement and accountability framework to encourage implementation and compliance.

It is one of the issues which features among the recommendations in the Report of the Commission to Review Jamaica’s Relations within the CARICOM and CARIFORUM Frameworks which is before this Meeting. The views and recommendations of that Commission add a voice to the conversation on the future of CARICOM and the CSME,” he explained.

President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise and Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr Keith Mitchell also addressed the regional leaders.
President David Granger and Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge are attending the high-level regional meeting, which concludes today.