In the last few days Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, has reiterated her belief that to progress the region must make the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) fit for purpose.
Ms Motley suggested that if the region is not to be marginalised, CARICOM’s governance structure needs to change, more frequent meetings of CARICOM heads and ministerial sub-committees should be held to speed up the pace of implementation, and her fellow leaders should in this respect consider following the lead of European Heads of Government. She also encouraged the private sector to play a much greater and more active role in regional decision making, planning and implementation.
Days earlier, the President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr Warren Smith, had said something similar, albeit in the context of the international business and financial services sector. A coordinated regional approach was required, he said, if the region was to reap the full benefits of its financial services sector.
