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CSME audit reveals mixed findings

Dec 11, 2009 News

– Household Domestics added to list of free movers

The Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) has come under the spotlight yet again, with a forensic audit carried out by the Caricom Secretariat to analyse the progress made by the movement.
While the findings of the audit derived mixed findings, it has been agreed that Household Domestics will also be added to the list of persons who are permitted to travel within the CSME-compatible countries unrestricted.
The audit was carried out after Heads of Government in the region mandated the Caricom Secretariat to undertake the exercise in the wake of numerous criticisms levelled against the movement.
According to Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Assistant Secretary General, Trade and Economic Integration, Caricom Secretariat, all member states were apprised and teams were dispatched to these countries to examine the extent to which there was adequate compliance.
LaRocque said that the audit sought to answer three questions: whether the member states complied with the removal of legal restrictions related to CSME; whether the sub-structures of governance developed to enable effective participation within the region, and finally what are the challenges facing member states in relation to the CSME.
Ambassador LaRocque explained that the audit found that there were many positives to take from the CSME, contrary to what some nationals of the region may say.  According to him, the indications are that the single market is functioning and Caricom nationals do have access to markets within the member states. However, he said that the audit did find shortcomings, first of which was the lack of capacity by member states to put measures in place to make the CSME more effective. It was also determined that there was a lack of understanding with respect to allowing these countries to take advantage of the opportunities that are present within the region.
Further, the audit found that there is a greater need to focus on public education about the CSME, and LaRocque believes that many persons are unaware of the volume of work that has to be undertaken to make the movement successful.
There was also the call for an increase in bringing labour-related issues to the level of Caricom. Additionally, member states were united in the view that there was a need to address the subject of movement within the region. LaRocque admitted that this issue is a sore point that is currently being looked at by the relevant authorities.
The audit also found that there was a greater need for assistance to facilitate increased extra-regional trade, with a focus on agriculture. LaRocque stressed that agriculture is an area of concern to the Secretariat, with declining finances to invest in this area. The removal of impediments that humbug regional trade was also highlighted. The Director believes that this will assist in alleviating poverty that continues to affect particularly rural areas of Caricom countries.
There was also recognition that there needs to be a relaxing of the regulations that will allow for service providers to ply their trade in a hassle-free environment. To this end, there was a call for the harmonising of regulations to make easier the requirements needed for the acquisition of a CSME certificate. This move will be welcomed by many who feel that there are too many documents needed to acquire the certificate and that the entire process is too bureaucratic.
Ambassador LaRocque stated that what is clear is that there is much more to be done to perfect the CSME – making it work for all member states.
The CSME which has its origin in the Grand Anse Declaration in Grenada in 1989 has come in for numerous criticisms since it was first mooted.

(Brushell Blackman)

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