Guyana Coalition of Services Providers: Promoting the Services Sector in Guyana

Final Instalment

Introduction

This is the third and final part of a short series of articles on the Guyana Coali-tion of Services Providers (GCSP) and Promoting the Services Sector in Guyana. So far, Part 1 has presented 1) a broad introduction to the formation and objectives of the GCSP 2) a short review of the size and composition of the services sector in Guyana, as revealed by the re-based series (2006) System of National Accounts, and 3) a description of Guyana’s services commitments under the WTO-GATs. Part 2 describ-ed membership and related issues; our networking with other services suppliers across CARICOM; and, efforts at resource-generation for the GCSP. Today’s article will focus on considerations affecting the regional and external environment in which Guyana’s services sector has to function.

The CSME

From its very inception the GCSP has relied heavily on support from the CARICOM Secretariat. This support has been readily forthcoming because Guyana, along with twelve other CARICOM countries, had in 2006 committed to the formation of a region-wide single market and economy ― CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). This is being operationalized under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas 2001. There are five major components to the CSME, all but one of which