CARICOM leaders to discuss protocol to further implement CSME measures

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders will discuss a draft protocol aimed at pushing forward the further implementation of aspects of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) during their two-day Inter-sessional summit.

CARICOM Secretary General, Carla Barnett, speaking at a news conference ahead of the event, told reporters that the protocol will be discussed, “and we will see if there are other things that need to be done as the legal drafts persons would say to perfect it. But it is at the stage where we have a draft protocol for consideration. We have not had that before. So for me that we have managed to reach that stage is a good thing,” she added.

The CSME is an arrangement among the 15-member CARICOM member states for the creation of a single enlarged economic space through the removal of restrictions resulting in the free movement of goods, services, persons, capital and technology.

The decision, in 1989, to establish the CSME was regarded as a move to deepen the integration movement to better respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization.

But there have been varying degrees of implementation of the CSME over the years and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who has lead responsibility for the CSME within the quasi-CARICOM Cabinet is expected to table the draft protocol during the two-day meeting.

“She has been meeting within that Committee and with the CARICOM Secretariat’s staff to work through what needs to be done to accelerate implementation. One of the important things that will be on the table at this meeting is a protocol on the enhanced cooperation among member states that will allow sub-groups of member states to work together closely so that we do not remain bound by the current understanding that we all have to agree to every single step before we make a single step.”

Barnett told reporters that the regional leaders will also be discussing the situation in Haiti and that Prime Minister Ariel Henry is expected to attend the first in-person meeting of CARICOM leaders since the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic two years ago had made meetings a virtual affair.

Henry became head of the government in the French-speaking CARICOM country after President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated at his private residence on July 7. The country has since been hit by an earthquake that killed hundreds of people in August in addition to having to deal the ongoing spate of kidnappings and other criminal activities.

“Haiti is a member of the Community so it is a discussion within family, if I can put it that way, and so within family you know we have difficult conversations, we try to be helpful, try to do what is right, we try to stand by the rules of the household.”

Barnett said one of the matters that CARICOM has been discussing in relation to Haiti “is the need for the international community to focus as well on long term development planning along with Haiti because there is a need for us to ensure that those matters are treated with.”

Barnett said that the regional leaders will also be discussing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic focusing on economic recovery, the ongoing situation in Ukraine where Russian forces have invaded the Eastern European country and preparing for the meeting with the leaders of the Central American Integration System (SICA) on Thursday, 11 years after the previous summit was held.

The CARICOM–SICA summit is expected to be attended by the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres with Barnett saying that he still likely to attend in person despite the ongoing Ukraine-Russia situation.

The President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, will attend the summit virtually. -(CMC)