Envoys reiterate call for quickening of integration process

May 20, 2011 News

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The 32nd Meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)’s Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) began yesterday at the Pegasus Hotel, with more calls for a speedier thrust of the integration movement of the 15-nation organization.
Participants at the opening of the two-day confab were addressed by Caricom Secretary-General (ag), Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite; Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; and Barbados’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean, who all stressed the need for an increased pace to a Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).
“These discussions are taking place in an environment in which the relevance of our integration movement is being increasingly questioned. This year so far has been devoted to introspection and a focus on the priorities for our integration movement in all our Councils,”Ambassador Applewhaite asserted.
“Indeed, our Heads of Government will be meeting here in Guyana over this coming weekend to continue their discussions on the way forward for CARICOM which they had initiated at last February’s Inter-Sessional Meeting in Grenada. At that Inter-Sessional Meeting, they had agreed that “the objective of the Regional Agenda should be focussed on improving the lives of the people of the Caribbean Community.”
In seeking to achieve that goal, our leaders, as you recall, identified in 1989 the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) as the cornerstone of these efforts. There is an agreement that we need to quicken the pace of our integration process, as further delay has implications, not only for the internal affairs of the Community but also for its engagement with Third States and Groups of States.
As the Heads of Government reiterated in Grenada, the CSME is our “platform for the organisation of production and the development of competitiveness, in order to develop globally competitive industries, to exploit opportunities in markets which are outside of the Community and which require cooperation, collective action and the pooling of resources.”
Guyana’s Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett concurred with Ambassador Applewhaite with respect to the speeding up of integration.
“We need to operate with greater speed and purpose, if only because we are having less resources to work with, and delay means lost opportunity.”
She pointed out that a number of important items on the agenda for this meeting have been at the discussion stage for about 10 years and added, “I think we need to exercise great care to fashion decisions and acceptable arrangements, but … we have to be cognizant of the increasing competitive environment in which we operate and the demand from the Community, from both within our countries and outside our countries, to act with utmost urgency.”
Barbados’ Foreign Affairs Minister and COTED Chairman, Senator Maxine McClean, also commented on the importance of the agenda for the meeting, but cautioned the gathering that, “Alarmingly this is one that we have seen before. This tells us something. It is critical that we prioritise. Further we must take steps to conclude these issues that we have before us for some time now and ensure they do not find themselves on the agenda [again].”
She said that critical to achieving the goals of the CSME, is for COTED to conduct its affairs with effectiveness. “We must make decisions that are intended to do more than recording such decisions. We must take steps to implement them.”
Secretary-General Applewhaite had earlier summarized the forum’s agenda.
“Matters engaging our attention over the next two days will range from internal and external trade, free movement, contingent rights, consumer protection, rising fuel and food prices, to transportation, culture and private sector organisational issues.”
She singled out one area as being of particular importance.
“Of all the items on the agenda, certainly one of the most pressing relates to the rising price of energy and food and its effect on the Region’s economies. It was in December 2007 at a Special Meeting here in Georgetown, that Heads of Government sought, through this Council, to combat the surge in food prices at that time. According to a recent United Nations Report, prices are even higher today than ever. The outcome of the discussions on the effect on the Region’s economies and therefore on the Region’s people, as well as the means to overcome this challenge must surely be one of the most eagerly awaited by our citizens.
The determining factors for the rise in energy and food prices do not reside in this Region but, like climate change and the financial and economic crises, the fall-out rests disproportionately on us. But it is in such adversity that our Community finds strength. It is that attribute which enabled us to act in the interest of our Member State, Haiti and grant it non-reciprocal preferential access to some of its goods over a three year period. It is noteworthy as well, that Haiti has indicated that it is ready to certify goods of Community origin. The full integration of Haiti into the Single Market for goods cannot be far off now.”
The Secretary-General also paid tribute to the former Trade and Industry Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Ken Valley, who passed away two Fridays ago, following a prolonged battle with cancer
“In concluding, I wish in this forum to pay my respects to one of your former Ministerial colleagues who contributed significantly to the work of this Council. I refer to the late Ken Valley of Trinidad and Tobago. His contribution helped to determine the regional trade agenda and his drive and verve assisted in propelling that agenda. May he rest in peace. “

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