The stagnating Caricom Single Market and Economy – CSME – is the subject of a three-day meeting being held in Roseau, dubbed Dominica CSME Outreach mission.
The June 6-8 meeting is examining how CARICOM has impacted the lives of Community nationals, the OECS Economic Union and its impact on the wider CARICOM integration movement, the Caribbean Court of Justice and its importance to the integration movement.
Trade is an important part of the arrangement, and participants were told by Barbados-based CSME Unit official, Ivor Caryll, that there are some issues which need to be resolved regarding the CSME which will allow businesses to take risks.
He indicated that the region has missed out on a number of opportunities.
Caryll also emphasized that Governments should not interfere in entrepreneurial decisions.
The CSME official described the single market and economy as a live wire to make opportunities available for people of the Caribbean.
The CSME is seen as a mechanism intended to benefit the people of the region.
It’s expected to do this by providing more and better opportunities to produce and sell Caribbean goods and services and to attract investment.
It is expected to create one large market among the participating member states.
The main objectives of the CSME include full use of labor (full employment) and full exploitation of the other factors of production (natural resources and capital).
It also seeks to foster competitive production leading to greater variety and quantity of products and services to trade with other countries.
CARICOM officials say they are optimistic that the CSME will help provide improved standards of living and work and sustained economic development.
Its key elements include free movement of goods and services, an already existing Common External Tariff, free movement of capital, a common trade policy, and free movement of labor.
Is it me or is that this CSME / Caribbean unity is just merely rhetoric – “ Gwo va petite lapluis “ . So far every talk shop is just an opportunity to hang out drink some wine go back to their home base submit a huge expense report – some $400 US a night others $ 300 US. At the end of it all what do we have – Nothing
That is why we will continue to rely on the Chinese to look after us. It is obvious we are not capable of doing it ourselves.
I dont know if it is our technocrats or politicians or both that are letting us down. I know for a fact that when I am in the other islands, I feel as at home as when I am in Dominica.
Was any of the manufacturing firms present or invited, was that company DAPEX that just made me as a farmer sell some apricots and sour sop invited , that is where the focus and support should be , assist these companies that are positive and need the initial support to grow. Stop this TALK SHOP, PER DIEM DRAWING, WASTE OF TIME activities and get something meaningful happening.
These technocrats love to talk to and among themselves.
At first if you don’t succeed, hold another meeting and keep talking. That is all we are good for is talk and more talk.
LOL. I like the way you put it. I think this meeting is more or less flogging a dead horse. The OECS economic union has bared more fruit than the CSME. You would think the regional govts would take note. But everyone more worried about what I losing rather than what I have to gain. oh well
Is it me or is that this CSME / Caribbean unity is just merely rhetoric – “ Gwo va petite lapluis “ . So far every talk shop is just an opportunity for oldgo back to their home base submit a huge expense report – some $400 US a night others $ 300 US. At the end of it all what do we have – Nothing