Regional leaders and scholars convened at a recent Vice-Chancellor’s Forum hosted by The University of the West Indies (The UWI) to discuss critical issues surrounding free movement, the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and the broader Caribbean Regionalisation Project. The gathering took place on October 21, according to a press release, aimed to foster strategic unity among Caribbean nations amid ongoing challenges.
During the forum, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, reportedly emphasized the need for deeper regional integration. As a proud alumnus of UWI, he underscored the importance of fully implementing free movement policies, cautioning that delays or reservations by member states could undermine the collective development trajectory. Gonsalves urged Caribbean countries to face demographic and economic hurdles with proactive planning, highlighting that addressing shared issues is vital for growth.
UWI reports that he pointed out several pressing issues threatening regional cohesion, including declining fertility rates and aging populations, which threaten sustainable workforces. He also called for more flexibility in the free movement of persons, considering the unique demographic profiles of individual island nations. Furthermore, he raised concerns about trade barriers created by currency exchange challenges, disparities in energy costs affecting regional cooperation, and the need for increased funding to support the CARICOM Development Fund. Other areas needing attention include airspace management, unified foreign policy strategies, and navigating geopolitical concerns.
The forum, themed “Promises, Passports, and Possibilities: Free Movement, the CSME, and Caribbean Regionalisation,” drew a varied panel of experts, including diplomats, academics, and policymakers, along with an engaged audience. Broadcast live via UWItv’s website and Facebook pages, the event rekindled discussions about the progress and obstacles faced by CARICOM’s integration efforts, more than five decades after the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, said the write-up.
It went on to state that UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles opened the event by framing regional integration as more than a bureaucratic goal—it is a moral and historical necessity rooted in the shared destiny of Caribbean peoples. “We have made significant progress, let there be no doubt, but there are still internal contradictory forces and headwinds, many of them originating outside of this region, that continue to keep us divided, internally competitive and without a common vision.”
Professor Canute Thompson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Studies, served as the forum chair and reflected on the treaty’s role in regional unification, marking its 50th anniversary. His central question was, “Have we realised these promises?”
The event featured presentations from key regional figures, including Dr. the Honourable Justice Anthony Gafoor, Chairman of Trinidad and Tobago’s Tax Appeal Board; Dr. Indira Rampersad, Head of Political Science at UWI St. Augustine; His Excellency Ambassador Anthony Hylton, a trade policy expert and lawyer; and Dr. Delroy Beckford, an international trade and competition lawyer and adjunct lecturer at UWI Mona. Their discussions aimed to evaluate the current state of the region’s integration efforts, identify factors promoting or hindering progress, and explore future steps.
As per the release, Dr. Rampersad provided a data-focused overview of mobility within the CSME, highlighting deficiencies in regional data collection and harmonization. She explained that outdated and inconsistent statistics hinder effective policymaking and conceal the true extent of labour mobility in the Caribbean.
Ambassador Hylton stressed that the legal frameworks underpinning the CSME are already established but require vigorous enforcement and judicial testing, notably through the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). He referenced the landmark Shanique Myrie case, which affirmed the rights of CARICOM nationals to hassle-free movement, and encouraged increased utilization of Article 222, allowing individuals and corporations to bring grievances before the CCJ.
Finally, Dr. Beckford offered a legal and economic perspective, advocating for the alignment of national laws with regional treaty obligations and warning against superficial integration efforts that lack depth and commitment.
The recorded broadcast may accessed here.
Surprisingly, such important subjects covered in that article have only generated one comment. It could an indication that the article is much too long to capture the attention of the ordinary reading public.
u and skerrit and brown…are the worse the Caribbean have ever seen…they need to rid of u all at all costs…u all are poison to development….remember the Americans are watching all of all u….u all are thiefing a bit too much…like my prime manager…