CARICOM at 35

Jul 01, 2008 Editorial

Today, CARICOM’s 29th summit of its Heads of Government will be inaugurated in grand style in Antigua and Barbuda.

President Bharrat Jagdeo will be one of five regional heads of government, who will address the august gathering of political, business, academic and cultural leaders drawn not only from the Caribbean but from other multinational bodies such as the Organisation of American States and the Commonwealth.
Four West Indian “greats” will be honoured with CARICOM’s most prestigious award—Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC) at the gala opening.

This summit follows fast on the heels of the Regional Agricultural Investment Forum that was held right here in Guyana at the CARICOM Headquarters at Liliendaal on June 6 and June 7 and the New York Conference on the Caribbean that took place on June 19 and June 20.

The summit meeting will end on July 4, the thirty-fifth anniversary of CARICOM, and it is our hope that this time around the gathered leaders will utilise the time spent together to make some hard decisions about the fate of the regional organisation on which so much resources are being expended and so little is being received.

Honouring our “greats” will be more telling if CARICOM becomes “great”.
Thirty-five years is a long time to wait and the fact of the matter is that CARICOM was preceded by Carifta that attempted for eight years (1965-1973) to, in the words of the CARICOM blurb, “unite their economies and to give them a joint presence on the international scene.”

Carifta itself, of course, was preceded by the West Indian Federation but the failure of that agglomeration may be excused on the ground that it was foisted on the ten members (Guyana was not a member) by the eager-to-depart British Colonial Government. But then again, maybe not.

What we have witnessed during the thirty-five years of CARICOM is the identical unwillingness, which torpedoed the WI Federation, of the individual political leaders to concede real political power to the organisation, which could confer the political muscle to implement decisions that are made but die on the vine.

Everyone, it appears, would rather be a petty Caesar in his (the leaders at this summit will all be males) tiny pond rather than a leader of a Regional organisation that can command some real influence on the international scene.

Some leaders, including St Vincentian Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, have rightfully grown pessimistic of CARICOM ever fulfilling its mandate of becoming a Common Single Market and Economy and are beginning to craft alternative integration measures for the smaller islands.

But the frustration with CARICOM is not new. Back in 1989, a Commission was established to investigate and recommend what might be done to speed up the accomplishment of stated goals.

They recommended, among a host of measures, the establishment of a permanent CARICOM Commission as an executive body to facilitate implementation and the creation of a Bureau of Prime Ministers to oversee the work of the Community in between summits.

While some limited progress has been made on other recommendations – such as the free movement of citizens – not a word had been issued about an executive body with teeth.

In the meantime, the bureaucracy of CARICOM keeps on multiplying in the manner of all bureaucracies, and more paper and hot air are generated at the interminable meetings and summits.
A new office building was recently completed for the CARICOM Secretariat.

In the meantime President Jagdeo should heed the words of Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr Kenneth Baugh.

“Even as we put in place the institutional framework to make the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) process a reality, we must be clear about the benefits to Jamaica of partnership in the CSME.”

At present, in view of the seeming compulsions by several member states to violate the CET on rice and sugar and the demonstrated reluctance (refusal?) of Trinidad and Tobago to cooperate in the area of food production but rather to strike out on its own regardless of its comparative disadvantages in that sector, what confidence can we have that a single economy will ever be crafted?

President Jagdeo will have to be clear about the benefits to Guyana in going forward. After all, even in the one area where there is claim for the success of CARICOM – a unified position on external matters – look at the EPA that was negotiated.

Latest News

CARICOM at 35

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Imlach masterclass 126, Alimohamed 66-ball 77, give Harpy Eagles life...

Fraser rebounds well, as Arjoon keeps perfect...

Guyana to host historic 3×3 Quest Tournament

Quarter-Finals in Mashramani Street Football...

Vurlon Mills Football Academy launches KFC...

DEMLIFE Golf Tournament tees off today at LGC

Features/Columnists

Due diligence on investments must become a priority

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Awestruck and starstruck with a twist

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

CARICOM at 35

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 7th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]