caricom marks 30 years

The Caribbean Community marks its 30th anniversary, the highlight of which is today’s grand opening of the 24th Caricom Summit which gets underway at 4 pm at the prestigous Ritz Carlton Hotel, here in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Today’s opening which will be televised live throughout the region has been pre-empted by meetings of officials and private discussions by the heads far away from Montego Bay. The meetings, it is assumed, have taken place at a particularly critical time for the region in that much attention  is being focused on the implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME). There is also the pending inauguration of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). These are two issues the Heads will be pushed to come up with some firm answers quickly. Firstly, there is the encroaching Free Trade of Americas Association (FTAA). Additionally, there are the external trade issues, especially in the light of upcoming negotiations in relation to Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union as part of the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) Group of countries. The establishment of the CCJ calls for quick and firm decision-making by the Caricom Heads, especially since British Prime Minister Tony Blair has signalled the proposed abolition of the London Privy Council. Some Caricom Heads may view Blair’s move as a blessing in disguise since the Law Lords in London had been widely viewed as people against capital punishment, which was contrary to the consensus in many of the Caricom member States.

Today’s opening has also been preceded by the eighth meeting of the region’s Finance Ministers, as well as the meeting of Ministers responsible for sugar. The leaders also spent two days in Ocho Rios where they held private discussions on a number of issues, the results of which will be formalised at the conference here in Montego Bay. One of the features of today’s opening ceremony will be an address by the visiting President of South Africa and Chairman of the African Union, Thabo Mbeki. He has been on a four-day official visit to Jamaica.
The focus today shifts to the Ritz Carlton here in Montego Bay, where apart from the visiting South African President, four Heads and Caricom Secretary-General, Edwin Carrington, are listed to speak. The four Heads who will speak are the host Prime Minister, Percival Patterson; the incoming Chairman of Caricom, Pierre Charles, Prime Minister of Dominica; the out-going Chairman of Caricom Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados, and Prime Minister Said Musa of Belize. The agenda will focus on critical priority areas in Caricom, such as the programme leading to the implementation of the Single Market Economy and in particular, the free movement of persons within the region — the Bill which was passed last week in the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament. Also, on the agenda are the legal framework towards establishment of the CCJ, as well as steps towards its inauguration. During the rest of the week, the Heads will receive progress reports on moves to revive the regional economy, including assistance to Dominica. This will include establishment of the Regional Stabilisation Fund — such as the type established in 1977 when one member State usurped almost 98 percent of the funds. Then there will be the matter of the Regional Economic Transformation Programme, and the Trinidad and Tobago/Caricom Support Programme. Crime and security will also be discussed by the Heads of Government who are due to receive a special report from a specially established Task Force.