(Jamaica Gleaner) – Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding on Sunday used the opening ceremony for the 31st meeting of the Caricom Heads of Government in Montego Bay to challenge his colleagues to make this a defining moment in Caribbean history.
Golding, who chairs the 15-nation regional bloc, insisted that groundbreaking changes must be made to reduce the lag time between policy and performance.
Critics have repeatedly pointed to the snail’s pace at which decisions of the regional leaders are implemented.
“We have identified what is called our implementation deficit. We have not agreed on how to fix it,” Golding said in a frank address, arguing that Caricom was on a make-or-break knife-edge if it could not reform its governance structure and culture.
The prime minister also urged tough and cohesive action on criminal networks which are wreaking havoc across the Caribbean.
“The transnational nature of organised crime requires much greater collaboration among us and between us and our international partners, with equal emphasis being given to the supply, transit and demand side of the international drug trade,” he said.
Meanwhile, immediate past chairman of Caricom, Roosevelt Skerrit, fired back at detractors who have described the annual heads of government meeting as nothing more than a talk shop.
Skerrit argued that those demanding speedier implementation of proposals such as the Caricom Single Market and Economy were not carefully examining the realities facing regional states.
While conceding that many of the projected achievements had not yet been accomplished – including seamless travel for Caricom citizens – he argued that this was caused by unavoidable circumstances.
“It is the prerogative of some to fantasise about the good old days but they have to accept that the landscape around us has changed dramatically,” Skerrit, the prime minister of Dominica, said.
“Some member states are in survival mode,” he added.
According to Skerrit, regional leaders are committed to implementing the Caricom agreements but are facing major roadblocks.
He urged naysayers not to view the inaction of regional leaders as a sign of indifference.
“I am optimistic about the future of Caricom because I firmly believe that all members realise and appreciate that going back is not an option,” said Skerrit.
His comments came minutes after Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington challenged the regional leaders to confront and overcome the obstacles the Caribbean faces.
