What the Caricom Single Market and Economy needs
Dear Editor,
According to David Jessop, in his article headed ‘At Last a Time For Action on the CSME’ in the Sunday Stabroek of December 16, 2018, Guyana does not appear to have been represented at the special summit hosted recently in Trinidad & Tobago, and attended by the Prime Ministers of Barbados and Jamaica, the declared objective of which was to resuscitate the Caricom Single Market & Economy.
At that meeting the recently elected Prime Minister of Barbados, Ms Mia Mottley, seemed to have brought new energy to a not untypically lethargic Caricom exercise.
She spoke of ‘cleaning cupboards’ presumably sending a message to the coordinating mechanisms of the Secretariat.
According to Jessop’s article the Barbadian Prime Minister gave notice of having almost a hyperactive agenda to be completed during 2019. For example, a review of agricultural and phytosanitary measures aimed at removing constraints on inter-regional trade was projected to be completed by February 2019.
It was in fact this vision of more actively integrating governments, programmes and services, that deserves more urgent attention by other Heads, including of course Guyana.
The visionary list includes the following common-sensical activities – in an effort to save our miniscule economies for survival in an unpredictable global dispensation: a Caricom financial services agreement an investment policy and investment code an integrated capital market and model securities legislation the mutual recognition of companies the mutual recognition of Caricom skill certificates, to enable both companies and individuals respectively to trade and work freely across the CSME Model legislation for trademarks harmonisation of business names institution of an administrative process to facilitate the free movement of goods
creation of a regional deposit insurance system; and credit information sharing system
a single window for region-wide company
registration
the accompanying harmonisation of relevant companies legislation
a single window for intellectual property legislation (so long outstanding)
the total freedom of movement for all Caribbean people by the end of 2021
Indeed the ultimate timeline for achievement of all the above is in fact 2021. The insistence seen in this ambitious agenda is on widening the current uni-dimensional focus of individual governments in order to create and maintain a more productive multi-dimensional strategic position for all our small and vulnerable economies, oil notwithstanding.
Here is hoping that the relevant leadership in our own government would have been advised of those good intentions, and with the necessary alacrity connect to the principle, and appropriately prepare to resuscitate its pristine image of leadership in the integration movement known as Caricom, which was forged by Forbes Burnham (together with Barrow and Bird).
Yours faithfully, E.B. John