Jamaica-DR accord should give pause for thought in Caricom
Afew days ago, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, and the President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, agreed to work towards a closer relationship. Beyond the widely-reported desire of both nations to increase trade and investment, the language contained in the joint declaration that followed their meeting in Santo Domingo suggested that the two countries may be seeking something more.
It indicated an interest in finding new ways to address inter-regional and external relations through the creation of a bilateral agenda that, as the document put it, could result in “a convergence in positions that address regional and international issues of mutual interest”.
In the joint declaration, Jamaica broke with the previously negative language that Caricom has adopted about the Dominican Republic since 2013, emphasising instead its belief that the two nations share a track record of “defending values and principles with respect to democracy, protection of human rights and respect for the rule of law”. It was also agreed that it was important for both sides to increase trade and bilateral investment “in an equitable way” to exploit the potential of both economies.
In an apparent recognition of the need for improved regional coherence in international trade negotiations, the official statement said that both leaders emphasised the importance of working more closely in Cariforum and the importance of strengthening bilateral coordination to promote a regional agenda on issues such as Brexit, the future of the ACP group, and negotiations for a post-Cotonou agreement with the European Union.
The visit placed emphasis in the nearterm on increasing co-operation in tourism, with both sides agreeing to sign an agreement on multi-destination tourism at the earliest opportunity and on finding ways to develop direct air links. There were also agreements on other issues that will help facilitate a closer relationship; a meeting with the private sector to flesh out possible economic complementarities beyond tourism; and an understanding that President Medina is expected to visit Jamaica soon.
The official visit ‒ the first in 34 years by a Jamaican Prime Minister, despite the geographic proximity of the two nations ‒ would appear to reflect Mr Holness’s previously expressed interest in deepening economic ties with nations with complementary economies in the Northern Caribbean (Jamaica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and the Cayman Islands).
The joint declaration, may also hint more generally at the evolving and different thinking of the Holness government about inter-regional relations and economic growth. Last year, Jamaica’s government commissioned a review of the country’s relations with Caricom under the chairmanship of a former Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, who was charged with examining ways in which Jamaica can