CARICOM Heads of Govern-ment see a need to reassess approaches that would re-energise the regional integration endeavour, pointing out that the most urgent need is not for broad new decision-making but the implementation of decisions already made.
They noted too that there appeared to be a loss in the momentum of the integration agenda.
According to a communiqué at the end of the 22nd Inter-sessional meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Grand Anse, Grenada, last week, the Heads of Government “reaffirmed their commitment to the regional endeavour and agreed that the objective of the regional agenda should be focussed on improving the lives of the people of the Caribbean Community.”
They acknowledged that their discussions were taking place against the backdrop of the rapidly changing international environment, including the on-going global financial and economic crisis which has had a negative impact on the economies of the region.
They also fully recognized that the region itself was facing many serious challenges to its survival but they remained convinced that as a community of states committed to the concept of a region moving together, these challenges could be overcome.
Despite their concern at the slow pace of the regional integration movement, the Heads of Government urged that the community should not allow itself to be discouraged by the often expressed views that CARICOM was in crisis.
They urged instead that the region be viewed as being at the crossroads of opportunity.
Moreover, the Heads of Government asserted that CARICOM’s leadership, at all levels, should acknowledge the protracted challenges and the urgency of arresting the associated perception of decline.
“The most urgent need was not for broad new decision-making; it was for implementing decisions already made and embodied in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and living by the spirit of unity and collective action that inspired the Grand Anse Declaration which preceded it,” the communiqué stated.
It was in this context that the Heads of Government accepted the invitation of President Bharrat Jagdeo for a special two-day retreat to be held in Guyana to discuss the way forward for CARICOM, scheduled between now and their regular meeting in St. Kitts and Nevis in July 2011.
And in light of the external trade environment, including the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union and the on-going negotiations with Canada for a Trade and Development Agreement, the Heads of Government reiterated the importance of the CSME as a platform for the organisation of production and the development of competitiveness.
This they see as essential in order to develop globally competitive industries to exploit opportunities in markets which are outside of the Community and which require cooperation, collective action and the pooling of resources.
Meanwhile, they urged member states to sign the Inter-governmental Agree-ment establishing the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and committed to providing all necessary support for the short and medium term activities, including advocacy and information activities required to sensitise stakeholders at the national, regional and international levels.
Heads of Government commended the Pan Ameri-can Health Organisation (PAHO); the Public Health Agency of Canada; the UK Department of Health; the CARPHA Steering Commit-tee; the CARPHA Advisory Group for their support of this initiative.
They agreed also to recognise the Caribbean Accredita-tion Agency for Engineering and Technology (CACET) as the accrediting body for engineering and technology in the region. They emphasised too the importance of regional coordination with regard to the accreditation of programmes and institutions and agreed to sign and ratify the Inter-Governmental Agree-ment establishing the Regional Accreditation Agency for Education and Training as a matter of urgency.
And the Heads of Government received a report from a Regional Technical Committee (RTC) on the resolution of the British Ameri-can Insurance Company/ Colonial Life Insurance Company (BAICO/CLICO) financial difficulties in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).
They agreed to the recommendation for the immediate establishment of a Health Insurance Support Fund of US$2 million to be sourced from the Petroleum Fund established by Trinidad and Tobago.
Heads of Government also agreed that funds from the Petroleum Fund would be directed towards the re-capitalisation of BAICO to address traditional life insurance policy holders. Heads of Government further agreed that the RTC would continue their work in respect of a proposal for an investment trust fund.
In that regard, the RTC is expected to engage with the International Financial Institutions to assist in arriving at appropriate recommendations.
Moreover, the communiqué noted, the Heads of Government welcomed the Minister of External Relations of Brazil and reiterated their appreciation of the strong ties between Brazil and the Community.
They used the opportunity to express their gratitude for the consistent and sterling support and assistance rendered to Haiti by Brazil. The Heads of Government and the Brazilian Foreign Minister agreed on the need to respect Haiti’s sovereignty as the efforts to rebuild the country continued in the wake of the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010.
They also expressed confidence that the electoral process for the second round of the Presidential and Parliamentary election would be credible and would strengthen the emerging democratic practices in Haiti.
Prime Minister of Grenada Tillman Thomas presided over the meeting which was held in Grand Anse, Grenada, February 25-26.
