Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Hon. Gaston Browne, has called for urgent, renewed unity among CARICOM countries. He was addressing the opening of the Thirty-Ninth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM on Wednesday evening in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The conference began on Wednesday and concludes on Friday.
He said that no single CARICOM country had the capacity to face the present or future challenges alone, and noted that there was an unavoidable interdependence of CARICOM countries, as geographical neighbours that compelled co-operation, collaboration and integration to meet development needs.
Prime Minister Browne also suggested that after 53 years, since CARIFTA was established, the Region should have been further along the road to economic integration than it was now. Using the example of the European Union, he said others started the process before CARICOM and were much more advanced. He opined that the people of the Region were no longer as hopeful as they once were regarding Regional integration and suggested that the leaders had a chance at the Summit to restore trust and confidence that they could make – and implement – joint decisions.
“As we convene as leaders of our Caribbean countries, we should not deceive ourselves that the people of our Region have great hope for the outcome of our ritual meeting. After 53 years of crawling through the process of integration, disappointment has replaced hope and scepticism has overwhelmed belief”, he said.
According to Prime Minister Browne the solution to the difficult economic circumstances resulting from challenges such as natural disasters and ineligibility for concessional financing, was the deepening and widening of the regional integration process. He said the realisation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) was part of solution to the Region’s challenging economic circumstances.
Each of our countries has to commit to, and implement, free movement of goods, people, services, capital and technology. It is the only way in which our Region will overcome the low level of both intra-industry and intra-regional trade”, he pointed out.
He said the realisation of the CSME would be good for all of CARICOM, as long as provisions were made within it for balance in everyone’s interest. He pledged his support to Prime Minister Mia Mottley in working on the issue.
Speaking to other challenges the Region’s economies faced, Prime Minister Browne said the negative effects of de-risking and the withdrawal of correspondent banking relations were well-known. He also noted the frightening prospect that, if these movements continued, CARICOM countries could be cut-off from the world’s financial and trading system. He said that if this were to happen, the consequences would be nothing short of disastrous. He implored his colleague Heads of Government not to allow what he referred to as the unilaterally devised and universally imposed doctrines of the OECD and FATF to be elevated above the welfare of the Region’s people.
In closing, Prime Minster Browne reiterated the urgency for Regional unity. According to him, it was needed now more than ever, with deeper commitment and greater strength.
The task of overcoming our vulnerabilities; of growing our economies despite the odds; of giving our people their rightful share of the world’s bounty will only be possible if we enlarge our strengths by combining them. We should not now dither or defer”, he said.
Action speaks louder than words,the leaders know the answer but they are selfish and corrupt.United we stand divided we fall there is no other way in these times.
Need to seriously look at rolling all of our small island states into one nation (I know we have tried before without success). Time to explore this avenue again…greater chance at success as a cohesive unit vs each small island taking baby steps to nowhere.
All the Caricom leaders, perhaps with the exception of Mia Motley, are monumental hypocrites. How can they call for unity of the Caribbean countries, hen they practise the most divisive politics in their homelands. Politics of exclusion is the strategy they use to win internal elections. Self- preservation is their sole preoccupation. Examine carefully what their policies have given us. Let me enunciate a few: high indebtedness, burdensome taxes, skyrocketing crime rate, mushrooming poverty, inadequate healthcare, rampant corruption, There is a ballooning percentage of people in CARICOM who are being pushed to the edge of life. Stop the flowery words and engage in actions that will provide better jobs, better wages, and a better future for all of us.
Mr. Brown you are so right. Why are so many caricom member state including your country Antigua not yet part of the CCJ. The CCJ is an important institution that can speed up the integration process but we prefer to play politics and hide behind the referendum cloak. Where was the referendum to seek permission that establish the ECCB, Eastern Caribbean Court, Caricom… Yes we are just a bunch of talkers.
The of Cycle of Progressive Caribbean politics/leadership have long been a time of generational past . Giants in the caliber of Williams, Manley, Grenada Revolution , Manning and Jagan left us certain political principles, that todays leaders with their love for everything MATERIALISTIC, will never adhere. Todays present mis-leaders, are all bent into giving back the Islands to their former owners, in the name of DEVELOPMENT. The first policy put in place by Ms MOTLEY of Barbados, is to invite the IMF to take control of her Island, the same with Antigua. With the exception of helping each other in times of Hurricane, the people are further apart more so now than ever before, Small time Leaders are dangling on their own in contaminated waters, each of them answers directly to Washington, their game? being good “BOYS & GIRLS. Progressiveness, have been thrown out the window, together with the Baby, Regression in thinking have taken hold, Gov’ts are administrated with no opposition…
If mr. Browne is true to this beliefs we should dismantle a separate OECS within CARICOM. That arrangement does nothing but create a home for cosy cartels and increased costs of living for its inhabitants.
We are talking about unity, yet maintain different customs tariffs and barriers to free trade and movement, despite the cosy dinners and backslapping every six months.
Mr. Browne could take the initiative and liberate his own country first. Only then could I give optimism some free rein.
For Caricom to be a real grouping,this present genre of politicians (save for about two), must be voted out of office.Most are not interested in what happens in the regional states,and are just talkers.The issue of bad and corrupt governance,disrespect for the rule of law and institution is rife in Dominica.Who cares?Sovereign state or not,your country should not be part of a democratic grouping when your style of governance is diametrically opposite to that of the others.Caricom is a waste.Wonder what would be the result of a referandum.
He must be paying attention. 53 years of ritual meetings with nothing to show. That is a very long time. Now time to restore hope and stop wasting people time. Action and results. In the next few meetings you guys should be discussing what was done and what were results.