CSME has made progress – CARICOM Heads

PM Skerrit

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Dr. Baldwin Spencer has said that despite the challenges, the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) had made progress, and that the Caribbean Community was committed to taking the process forward to achieve the desired goals.

“We know that this is the only way for the future for the people of the region.we are committed to that.we are still very optimistic that whatever we have set out to do under the Treaty of Chaguaramas, we cannot derail what we have put in place, because we really don’t have much of an alternative,” Mr. Spencer told a press conference on the second day (July 5) of the 31st Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort in Montego Bay, St. James.

“All of us would have liked to know that as far as CARICOM and the CSME is concerned, that we would be further ahead, but we have to understand that we are living in the real world, .and there are times when you just are unable to come to terms with your agenda, and timelines and so on, because of all sorts of things. No one would have expected that the world would have been in such an economic turmoil as it is now.the worst since the great depression, no one had anticipated that three years ago,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Dominica, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, who also addressed the press conference, said he did not believe that the length of time it took to realise some initiatives was reflective of the view that leaders were not serious about CARICOM.

“That is far from so. There is strong commitment to moving the process forward and there is a willingness and determination to get the job done,” he stressed.

Mr. Skerrit noted that there was a need to look at restructuring the Secretariat to more efficiently reassign resources, to better address the needs presented by current realities.

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2 Comments

  1. Prophet2
    July 7, 2010

    CARICRAP is dead and no one is mourning.

  2. Anonymous
    July 7, 2010

    oh please, member states are too busy signing on to various bilateral agreements to pay much attention to CARICOM and the various measures that needs to be put in place to move the CARICOM from Paper to reality.

    We have a CARICOM/OECS person in the name of Ambassador Maynard. Do we know what really is his role and what is the mandate from the Office that he is responsible for. It is all well and good for Ministers and PM to read prepared speeches, but how does this translate into benefit for the countries with CARICOM.

    I find it is easier to go through the US immigration then it is to go through the immigration in Trinidad and Barbados. the PM are speaking at these various fora but on the other hand wants to protect their domestic market and their turf, and they too do not see the quick financial benefits from CARICOM, as opposed to say China, Venezuela, Iran and the rest.

    CARICOM the Leaders understand money. they have elections to win. Get with the programme.

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