Section I – PROGRESS REPORT
Noted
Section II – REGIONAL INTEGRATION
(i) Measures for Economic Integration – including proposals for wider Free Trade Area;
(ii) Trade and Integration Committee;
(iii) Location of Industries
The Conference adopted a resolution to the effect that –
(a) Free Trade should be introduced with respect to all intra-Commonwealth Caribbean trade by 1st May, 1968, subject to certain other provisions;
(b) The Governments should approach the task of the freeing of trade by using the CARIFTA agreement with suitable modifications;
(c) Studies should be initiated immediately in connection with the feasibility of the establishment of a common external tariff in whole or in part:
(d) the principle of providing special protection for certain industries should be accepted; the location of such industries, having regard to the situation of the relatively less-developed countries, should be the subject of immediate study;
(e) A regional policy of incentives to industry should be adopted as early as possible, bearing in mind the special needs of the less-developed countries for preferential treatment and existing commitments of participating territories;
(f) Marketing agreements for an agreed list of agricultural commodities should be sought. The principle of seeking to establish a greater number of industries in the less-developed territories should be accepted; the Economic Commission for Latin America should be requested to undertake certain feasibility studies in this connection.
The Economic Commission for Latin America should be asked to undertake a number of other studies, e.g., on the harmonising of incentives and the feasibility of establishing regional industries;
A Committee of Ministers, functioning as a sub-Committee of the Heads of Government Conference, should be set up immediately with general responsibility for the establishment of the Free Trade Area.
The text of the Resolution is set out at Appendix I.
The Conference agreed on the procedure for establishment of the Free Trade Area set out in the paper submitted by the Guyana delegation – see Appendix II.
Reservations
The Delegations of Montserrat and Belize reserved the positions of their respective Governments on the conclusions set out above, having regard to their present constitutional position.
The Delegation of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla requested that the reservation of its Government should be noted at this stage on the whole matter of the establishment of a Free Trade Area and the other related proposals embodied in the Resolution.
Regional Secretariat
The Conference agreed to the establishment of a Regional Secretariat; that it should be located in Guyana and that the budget and staff considerations and the allocation of contributions should be examined further by a Committee of officials which should report back to Governments by November, 1967. In the interim the Government of Guyana should be requested to undertake such co-ordinating services as might be required.
Reservations
The Jamaica Delegation reserved the position of its Government on the establishment and location of the secretariat.
The Barbados Delegation reserved the position of its Government on the proposed location and budget of the Secretariat.
Section III – TRADE MATTERS
Canadian Offer on Sugar
The Conference adopted a resolution in the following terms:-
1. All Governments should indicate to the Canadian Government their acceptance, without prejudice, of the Canadian offer of refund of duty;
2. The advice of the West Indies Sugar Association should be sought on the allocation of quotas among Commonwealth Caribbean Countries for the purpose of computing the rebate returnable to each country.
3. The Government of Barbados should make the appropriate representation of the West Indies Sugar Association;
4. The urgent need for the Canadian Government to take action to prevent further erosion of the market in Canada for regional sugar exports should be stress on that Government.
The text of the Resolution is set out at Appendix III
(ii) Sale of Rum in Canada
The Conference agreed –
1. that the action of the Canadian distillers be noted and that Governments should not press for the enactment of legislation to require the origin and content of rum marketed in Canada to be clearly marked;
2. That the Canadian Government should be advised to proceed with the amendment to Section 206 of the Regulations governing distillers and their products which would remove the restriction that bottlers in Canada should be required to use not more than 25% of imported from in their blends even though the Canadian government believed that this amendment would not in itself necessarily ensure any increases in the imported content of Canadian blended rum.
Reservation
The Government of Guyana reserved its position in the decision at (b) above.
It was agreed that the Government of Jamaica should take the necessary action to implement these decision taking note of the reservation by the Government of Guyana.
Section V – INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONS OF COMMON INTEREST
Desirability of Commonwealth Caribbean Countries seeking Associate Overseas Territories Status with the European Economic Community.
Section V – FINANCE INSTITUTIONS
(a) Regional Development Bank
The Conference adopted the report of the Preparatory Mission of the United Nations Development Programme as furnishing broadly acceptable guidelines for the establishment of the Caribbean Development Bank, subject to certain modifications which were embodied in a resolution of the Conference.
The text of this Resolution is set out at Appendix IV.
(b) – Location of Development Bank
The Conference agreed that the question of location of the Caribbean Development Bank should be referred for consideration by the Committee of Senior Officials which would be entrusted with the task of –
1. finalising arrangements in respect of the establishment of the Bank;
2. preparation of the draft Charter.
The text of this Resolution is set out at Appendix V.
Section VI – TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS
(i) – Feasibility of an additional cargo ship for the West Indies Shipping Service
The Conference noted the paper submitted by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and agreed that it should be referred to the Regional Shipping Council.
(ii) – Regional Air Carrier
The Conference concluded that the development of the region would be further accelerated by the existence and operation of a Commonwealth Air Carrier and agreed to set up a working party to further examine the matter on the basis set out in the Resolution at Appendix VI.
Reservation
The Jamaica Delegation reserved the position of its Government on this matter since it did not at present wish to be involved in any proposal relating to any particular airline as a regional carrier.
(iii) – Regional News Services
The Conference agreed –
That an early survey be made to determine the requirements for meeting the present deficiencies including –
1. the establishment of a regional news agency; and
2. the regular exchange of sound radio and television programme material including educational programmes by territorial broadcasting organisations;
That the assistance of UNESCO, the University of the West Indies and the University of Guyana should be sought in carrying out the proposed survey;
That the early arrangements be made by official information services of the regional Governments for the more effective exchange of news and information material relating tot he region and that to this end consideration should be given to the holding of a conference of officials in charge of information services or other nominees of the individual Governments.
The conference agree that the Government of Guyana should submit to UNSECO, on behalf of the Commonwealth Caribbean Governments, an application for assistance in regard to the proposed survey and to initiate any other action as required by paragraph (ii) of the Resolution.
The text of the Resolution adopted by the Conference on this matter is set out at Appendix VII.
Section VII – OTHER REGIONAL MATTERS
(i) – Commonwealth Caribbean Technical Assistance Programme
The Conference adopted the proposal contained in the paper on this item submitted by the Government of St. Lucia.
It was agreed that the central institution to correlate all requests for Technical Assistance should be the Regional Secretariat as soon as it has been established.
(ii) – Co-ordination of efforts in External Representation
The Conference adopted a Resolution on the desirability of co-operation in external representation and in representation at international conferences and agreed to the appointment of a working party of officials to meet and report to Governments not later than 1st February, 1968. The text of the Resolution is set out at Appendix VIII
(iii) – Problems of Internal and Regional security in the Caribbean
There was no discussion on this matter.
(iv) – Contributions to the University of the West Indies by the smaller Caribbean territories.
It was agreed that this matter should be referred to the University Council for consideration at its meeting in February, 1968, and that if and when the University of the West Indies set up an investigation the persons undertaking that investigation should not be confined to University of the West Indies personnel only but that the services of other agencies or universities should be enlisted.
(v) – Future of the Eastern Caribbean Farm Institute
The Conference agreed that a meeting of appropriate representatives of all the countries served by the Easter Caribbean Farm Institute up to the end of 1964, and including representatives of the University of the West Indies, be convened as early as possible to discuss the conditions and implications of the present regional ownership of, and future regional ownership of and participation in the Eastern Caribbean Farm Institute, and to recommend the basis on which future contributions should be made and future policy should be formulated.
The text of the Resolution adopted in connection with this subject is set out at Appendix IX.
(vi) – Regional Plan for the Blind
The Conference reached the following conclusions on this item:-
that the reaction of the several Governments to the proposal be obtained;
that the Government of Barbados be asked to follow-up with the several Commonwealth Caribbean Governments the resolutions adopted by the Conference in Trinidad;
that the replies of the several Governments be co-ordinated and submitted to the next Conference of Heads of Government of Commonwealth Caribbean Countries for consideration;
that in the event of the establishment of a regional Secretariat for Commonwealth Caribbean Governments the follow-up action should be undertaken by that organisation.
The text of the Resolution adopted by the Conference in connection with this matter is set out at Appendix X.
(vii) – Economic co-operation in Education with particular reference to examinations and the production of textbooks.
It was agreed that a meeting of the appropriate representatives of Governments of Commonwealth Countries and of the regional Universities be convened not later than 31st March, 1968, to –
1. EXAMINE the possibility of an expansion of the scope of the proposed Caribbean Examinations Council to include all the territories now represented at the Conference of Heads of Government of Commonwealth Caribbean Countries
2. STUDY the problems of the production of text-books for the region with special reference to –
the selection of material;
authorship; and
the viability of printing and publishing such books within the region bearing in mind statistical references and projects from all available sources such as the Institute of Social and Economic Research (Brewster/Thomas) Study on Caribbean Integration;
3. DETERMINE what other appropriate regional or non-regional institutions it might be necessary to co-opt, or work in consultation with, in respect of the matters under their consideration;
4. EXAMINE the financial and economic implications of any proposals resulting from (a) and (b);
5. PREPARE a report on the progress on these matters for the next Heads of Government Conference.
The text of the Resolution adopted by the Conference in connection with this item is set out at Appendix XI.
(viii) – Establishment of a Caribbean Population Research Centre.
The Conference agreed that the University of the West Indies should be invited to –
ADVISE on the several aspects of the problems, including the medical, as illustrated in the paper by the Government of Barbados;
EXAMINE the feasibility of a Population Research Centre being established to undertake the studies, disseminate information and undertake such other activities as are proposed in the paper;
PREPARE a report on the feasibility of the project for the next Heads of Government Conference.
The text of the Resolution adopted by the Conference in connection with this item is set out at Appendix XII
Section VIII – REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS
(i) – Regional Bureau of Standards
The Conference agreed that the United Nations Development Programme be requested to provide advice on the organisation of a regional standards bureau for those countries in the region which do not now possess and which do not propose to establish such an organisation and on the form of collaboration among standards bureaux in the region for the purpose of establishing common regional standards.
It was agreed that the Government of Barbados should be requested to submit on behalf of the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries, the formal application to the UNDP.
The test of the Resolution adopted by the Conference in connection with this item is set out at Appendix XIII.
(ii) Regional Institute of Applied Development Technology
The Committee of the Conference which considered this matter agreed to recommend to the various Governments that the paper submitted by the Government of Guyana should be referred for further study by a Committee of Officials.
(iii) Regional Co-operation the development of Tourism
The Committee of the Conference which considered this matter agreed to recommend to the various Governments that an early meeting of officials responsible for tourism in the region should be called to make recommendations to the Governments on the studies and mechanisms necessary to bring about a greater degree of regional cooperation and coordination in the development of tourism and in particular co-operation and co-ordination of regional tourist promotion.
RESOLUTION IN CONNECTION WITH REGIONAL INTEGRATION
Free Trade should be introduced with respect to all intra-Commonwealth Caribbean trade by 1st May, 1968, subject to a list of reserved commodities which would be freed within a five-year period for the more developed countries and within a ten-year period for the less developed countries; subject to special provisions for appeal by a less developed territory to the Governing Body of the free Trade Area for further extension in any case where serious injury may be done to a territorial industry.
The Government should approach the task of freeing of a trade by using the CARIFTA Agreement with suitable modifications.
The Commonwealth Caribbean Countries shall immediately take steps to initiate studies to determine whether the objective of achieving trade expansion to the mutual benefit of the member States can be facilitated by the establishment of a common external tariff in whole or in part.
The principle should be accepted that certain industries may require for their economic operation the whole or a large part of the entire regional market protected by a common external tariff or other suitable instrument. The location of such industries and the criteria to be applied in respect thereof, as well as the implementation of the principle accepted above, should be the subject of immediate study – such study to have special regard to the situation of the relatively less developed countries.
Subject to existing commitments, a regional policy of incentives to industry should be adopted as early as possible on the basis of studies mentioned in Resolution 7 below, bearing in mind the special needs of the less developed countries for preferential treatment, such as soft loans.
Marketing agreements for an agreed list of agricultural commodities should be sought to come into effect at the same time as the commencement of free trade and the territories in the region should examine the possibility of restricting imports from extra-regional sources of agricultural products that are produced within the region and are available for satisfying regional demand.
The principle of seeking to establish more industries in the less developed countries should be accepted and the ECLA Secretariat should be asked to undertake feasibility studies immediately with a view to identifying industries which should be located in the less developed countries and to devise special measures for securing the establishment of such industries in these countries. These studies should be submitted to governments no later than one year after the commencement of free trade.
The Commonwealth Caribbean should endeavour to maintain and improve regional carriers to facilitate the movement of goods and services within the region.
The Commonwealth Caribbean Countries should agree to negotiate with the Shipping Conference the rationalisation of freight rates on extra-regional traffic.
The ECLA Secretariat for the Caribbean should be asked to undertake a number of studies, for example, studies on the harmonising of incentives and the feasibility of establishing certain regional industries.
A Committee of Ministers should be set up immediately functioning as a sub-committee of the Heads of Government Conference, with general responsibility for the establishment of Free Trade Area.
RECOMMENDATION PROCEDURE FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FREE TRADE AREA
1. The Conference will adopt the Resolutions recommended by the Committee with or without amendment.
2. After the conclusion of the Conference, Guyana will notify that having regard to the Resolutions, certain difficulties have arisen in relation to carrying the CARIFTA Agreement into effect. This notice will be given under Article 31(3) of the Agreement and will allow for a Supplementary Agreement to resolve the difficulties.
3. On the basis of this notification, the Signatory Territories will conclude a Supplementary Agreement to resolve the difficulties notified by Guyana. The Supplementary Agreement will provide for a series of amendments to the text of the CARIFTA Agreement to implement the Resolutions referred to in paragraph 1 above.
4. The amendments will provide machinery for an Commonwealth Caribbean Country to become a Signatory Territory of the CARIFTA Agreement as amended on the deposit by its Government of an instrument signifying its endorsement of the resolutions referred to in paragraph 1 above.
5. The Free Trade Area will come into operation on the date prescribed in Resolution 1 of the Resolutions referred to I paragraph 1 above in respect of all Territories that have deposited instruments under paragraph 4 above.
6. Antigua, Barbados and Guyana will undertake at the Conference to conclude the Supplementary Agreement on terms approved by the post-Conference machinery to give effect to the Resolutions.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE SALE OF SUGAR TO CANADA
That all Governments notify the Canadian Government of their acceptance of the Canadian offer of a refund of duty of 29 cents per 100 lbs, on sugar exported to Canada up to a maximum of 275,000 tons without prejudice to further negotiation for more favourable arrangements for Commonwealth Caribbean countries and that payment be made retroactive from 1st January, 1967
That the advice of the West Indies Sugar Association should be sought on the allocation of quotas among Commonwealth Caribbean countries for the purpose of computing the amount of the rebate for which each territory will be eligible.
That the terms of reference to the West Indies Sugar Association be as follows –
To examine –
the effect of the United Kingdom Sugar Board release scheme for exports to Canada on the Canadian preference and proposed duty refund payments on imports into Canada of sugar from the Commonwealth Caribbean;
the following principles for the distribution of payments under the Canadian refund of duty scheme –
The calculations of the ceiling of 275,000 tons should be based on the statistics of sugar imports into Canada, collected by the department of National revenue (details of the calculations yielding the figures of 275,000 average five year performance 1961-65 to be provided by Canada).
Figures for subsequent years should be the Canadian import figures.
The adjustment of surpluses and shortfalls which will be necessary because of ceiling is imposed would be done annually; there would be no carry forward of shortfalls or surpluses from one year to the next.
That the West Indies Sugar Association be requested to check the accuracy of the total shipments by which country to Canada and to reconcile the figures with the Canadian statistics.
Where total exports of sugar from Commonwealth Caribbean countries to Canada are less than the maximum of 275,000 metric tons of each country’s performance was less than its quota, no adjustment problem would arise as payment will be made on the basis of actual performance.
Where total exports are less that 275,000 metric tons but come countries’ performance exceeded their quota and others had shortfalls, payment will be made on the basis of actual performance.
Where total exports exceed 275,000 metric tons and all countries’ performance exceed quotas, there would be no adjustment problem as payment would be made on the basis of quotas.
Where total exports exceed 275,000 metric tons and some countries have exceeded their quota allocation while others had shortfalls, payments will be made to each exporting country on its actual exports provided that such exports do not exceed its quota. Where quotas have been exceeded by some exporters, the shortfall should be divided among those with excesses in proportion to such shipments.
For the purposes of the duty refund “quota” means the five year average of export to Canada by the various territories during 1961 to (i.e. 266,800 tons revised to 275,000 tons as agreed with the Canadian Government, the increase of 8,200 tons being redistributed among the various territories on the basis of an increase of 4,900 tons of Belize and the allocation of an amount of 3,300 tons among the remaining exporting territories on a pro rata basis to the five year average of their actual exports during 1961 to 1965
The 1961 – 65 average and the quota allocation would therefore be as follows –
Average Quota
| 1961 | 1965 | |
| (1000 metric tons) | (1000 metric tons) | |
| Barbados | 19.3 | 19.54 |
| Guyana | 99.9 | 101.16 |
| Jamaica | 93.2 | 94.37 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 41.0 | 41.52 |
| Leeward & Windward Is. | 8.8 | 8.91 |
| Belize (Br. Honduras) | 4.6 | 9.50 |
| TOTAL | 266.8 | 275.00 |
the operation of the present quota system in relation to sales of sugar to the preferential markets which preclude some territories from taking full advantage of high priced U.S. sugar quotas; and to make recommendations that the Conference impress upon the Canadian Government the urgent need to taking appropriate action to prevent the erosion of the market in Canada for Commonwealth Caribbean Sugar and to take steps to ensure that the return to the producer is enhanced.
RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CARIBBEAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
The Conference adopted the following resolution :-
Having considered the report of the preparatory mission of the U.N.D.P. on the setting up of a Caribbean Development Bank, and
Having taken into account the recommendations in the report of the Conference of Officials of the Commonwealth Caribbean territories held in Guyana in August 1967, on the Caribbean Development Bank;
(i) Decides to adopt the report of the preparatory mission as furnishing broadly acceptable guidelines for the establishment of the Caribbean Development Bank subject to the modification set out below –
In view of the ability of the U.S. Government to contribute to the equity at the inception of the Bank, the special fund to provide soft loans should be increased from U.S. $20 million by tan amount which would accommodate the U.S. subscription and that the United States Government be invited to keep open the possibility either to contribute directly to the equity of the Bank or to convert part of their subscription into equity capital
In addition, the conference expresses the hope that contributions would be made from other sources to the extent that this soft loan fund would be established in a sum of not less than U.S. $50 mission.
Takes note of the replies which have been received by the Prime Minister of Guyana from the Governments of the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America in which the Governments of the United Kingdom and Canada express their willingness to participate as members in the establishment and financing of the Bank, and the Government of the United States of American indicates its willingness, subject to future availability of funds, to make a development loan to the Bank when established;
Welcomes the intimation of willingness on the part of the Government of Puerto Rico to co-operate in the work of the Caribbean Development Bank and requests that the inter-Governmental Committee consider on consultation with the Government of Puerto Rico and form which such co-operation might take;
Decides to establish an inter-Governmental Committee consisting of not more than two Senior Official representatives from each of the Governments of the United Kingdom, Canada and the Commonwealth Caribbean, to take such further steps as may be required, including the drafting of the Charter to bring the Bank into being on the basis of the timetable set out hereafter;
Invites the U.N.D.P., E.C.L.A. and the regional Universities to assist the Committee in carrying out the above task, and instructs the Committee to seek the assistance of any other organisation which the Committee may consider appropriate;
Invites the Government of the United States of America to participate in the work of the inter-Governmental Committee;
Requests the U.N.D.P. to provide assistance to the Governments and the region in undertaking pre-investment studies and in the identification and preparation of projects for Bank Financing and in providing training in project preparation and analysis for nations of the region;
Decides that the timetable for the setting up of the Bank should be as follows:-
the meetings of the inter-Governmental Committee mentioned in paragraph (iv) above should be held in November and December, 1967;
the recommendations of this Committee, including the draft Charter of the Bank, should be considered by a meeting of member Governments to be convened in February 1968;
the Governments concerned should take such Parliamentary or other action as may be necessary to give effect to the recommendations in time to ensure that the Bank shall come into existence not later than the 1st May, 1968.
RESOLUTION ON THE LOCATION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT BANK
Resolved that the inter-Governmental Committee set up by the Conference as recorded in the resolution dealing with the Regional Development Bank and comprised of Senior Officials be convened and entrusted with the task of
the discussion and finalisation of detailed arrangements concerning membership, structure, the allocation of subscription, voting power, location of the Bank and similar items requiring inter-Governmental negotiations;
the preparations of the draft Charter for the Bank which will be submitted to a Conference of Ministers of Finance for final approval in the event of ratification;
the consideration of the summary of the discussion set out in the report of the Committee on the location of the Bank and the summary record of the discussion in the Plenary Session on this matter.
Be it further resolved that the recommendation of the Committee of Heads of Government Conference on the location of the Bank that the area should be best served by a division of the Bank’s institutions in two be adopted by the inter-Governmental Committee as the basis for the initial establishment of the Bank.
RESOLUTION RELATING TO REGIONAL AIR CARRIER
Resolved that the Conference of Heads of Government of Commonwealth Caribbean Countries is of the view that the development of the region would further be accelerated by the existence and operation of a Commonwealth Caribbean Air Carrier and agree to the setting up of a working party on the following basis:
the Working Party should comprise aviation technical officers, legal officers and Ministry administrative officers from each of the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries involved in the proposals, as well as officials to be nominated by the Council of Ministers of the West Indies Associated States;
the members of the Working Party would need to be released from their normal duties for a period of about 8 – 10 weeks to serve on the Working Party;
the Working Party should rotate its sessions in each of the countries of Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad where it would have the opportunity of on-the-spot consultation with the various aviation interests as well as have recourse to the documents available in each country;
the Working Party should examine in detail, including the question of route rights and question of bilateral and multilateral agreements, the establishment of a regional air carrier for the Commonwealth countries.
RESOLUTION ON THE NEED FOR EXCHANGE OF NEWS AND RADIO AND T.V. PROGRAMMES WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN
Officials representing the Governments of the Commonwealth Caribbean countries –
CONSCIOUS that regional thinking and awareness is the essential basis for the effective working of regional institutions;
AWARE that the mass media play a dominant role in the shaping of the public mind;
NOTING that the mass media at present provided inadequate coverage for regional events and policies, and
ACKOWLEDGING that certain efforts are now underway in co-operation with the Government of Canada to expand the broadcasting services available to the region;
AGREE –
that an early survey be made to determine the requirements for meeting the present deficiencies including –
the establishment of a regional news agency; and
the regular exchange of sound radio and television programme material including educational programmes by territorial broadcasting organisations.
that the assistance of UNESCO and UWI and the University of Guyana should be sought in carrying out the proposed survey;
that early arrangements be made by official information services of the regional Governments for the more effective exchange of news and information material relation to the region and that to this end consideration should be given to the holding of a conference of Officials in charge of information services or other nominees of the individual Governments.
RESOLUTION IN CONNECTION WITH CO-ORDINATION OF EFFORTS IN EXTERNAL REPRESENTATION
Resolved that this Conference
Acknowledges the value of pursuing all practicable way in which Commonwealth Caribbean Countries may co-operate in external representation and in representation at International Conferences, and appoints a working party of officials to consider this matter and to report to Governments not later than February 1, 1968.
The Committee should comprise one representative of each Government and the Conference should invite the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to make available Mr. K. Sealey, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of external Affairs, to be the Convenor.
RESOLUTION ON THE FUTURE OF THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN FARM INSTITUTE
That a meeting of appropriate representatives of all the countries served by the Eastern Caribbean Farm Institute up to the end of 1964, and including representatives of the University of the West Indies, be convened as early as possible to discuss the conditions and implications of the present regional ownership of, and future regional ownership and participation in the Eastern Caribbean Farm Institute, and to recommend the basis on which future contributions should be made and future policy formulated.
RESOLUTION IN CONNECTION WITH REGIONAL ACTION IN THE PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS AND THE CARE OF THE BLIND
The Conference –
NOTING the resolutions adopted by the Commonwealth Caribbean Conference on work for the blind held in Trinidad from 25th September to 2nd October, 1967, which were circulated in the Appendix to paper CCCC 4-1967 Sec. V. (vii), submitted by the Government of Barbados to the Fourth Conference of Heads of Government of Commonwealth Caribbean Countries and
APPRECIATING the work on the care of the blind undertaken by Commonwealth Caribbean Governments and Voluntary Organisations in the region,
CONCLUDED that there is need for a Caribbean Council for the Blind to co-ordinate the work of the several Governments and Voluntary Organisations in the respective territories in the region, and recommends that:
the reaction of the several Governments to such a proposal be obtained;
the Government of Barbados be asked to follow up with the several Commonwealth Caribbean Governments the resolutions adopted by the Conference in Trinidad;
the replies of the several Governments be co-ordinated and submitted to the next Conference of Heads of Government of Commonwealth Caribbean Countries for consideration;
in the event of the establishment of a Regional Secretariat for Commonwealth Caribbean Governments the follow up action be undertaken by that Organisation.
RESOLUTION RELATION TO ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION IN EDUCATION WITH PARTICULAR
REFERENCE TO THE EXAMINATIONS AND THE PRODUCTION OF TEXT BOOKS
The Conference –
NOTING the points in the paper CCCC 4-1967 Sec. V (I) presented by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago at the Fourth Conference of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries –
REALISING that the proposals therein would have a tremendous social and psychological impact on the region;
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the valuable work done by the Working Party of the Caribbean Examinations Council and the useful experience gained therefrom;
NOTING however that the composition of that Working Party and the proposed Caribbean Examination Council was confined to the four independent Commonwealth Caribbean Countries; and
FURTHER NOTING that the proposals contained in the paper presented by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago add new dimensions to the terms of reference of the Working Party in that they encompass not only Examinations but the production and publication of text-books,
AGREES that a meeting of the appropriate representatives of Governments of Commonwealth Caribbean Countries, and of the regional Universities be convened not later than 31st March, 1968 to :-
EXAMINE the possibility of an expansion of the scope of the proposed Caribbean examinations Council to include all the territories now represented at the Conference of Heads of Government of Commonwealth Caribbean countries;
STUDY the problems of the production of text-books for the region with special reference to –
(i) the selection of material;
(ii) authorship; and
(iii) the viability of printing and publishing such books within the region bearing in mind statistical references and projections from all available sources such as the I.S.E.R. (Brewster/Thomas) Study on Caribbean Integration;
DETERMINE what other appropriate regional or non-regional institutions it might be necessary to co-op, or work in consultation with, in respect of the matters under their consideration;
EXAMINE the financial and economic implications of any proposals resulting form (a) and (b)
PREPARE a report on the progress on these matters for the next Heads of Government Conference.
RESOLUTION IN CONNECTION WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CARIBBEAN POPULATION RESEARCH CENTRE
The Conference –
NOTING the points in the paper CCC 4 – 1967 Sec. V (vi) presented by the Government of Barbados to the Fourth Conference of Heads of Government of Commonwealth Caribbean Countries,. And
FURTHER NOTING
the general agreement on the need for continuous study of the population problems of the region;
the difference approaches and emphases expressed in Committee towards the problem;
the very valuable work of the Institute of Social and Economic Research of the University of the West Indies in this field; and
the limited availability of personnel and funds combined with the need for careful assessment of priorities,
agrees that the University of the West Indies be requested to –
ADVISE on the several aspects of the problems, including the medical, as illustrated in the paper by the Government of Barbados
EXAMINE the feasibility of a Population Research Centre being established to undertake the studies, disseminate information and undertake such other activities as are proposed in the paper;
PREPARE a Report on the feasibility of the project for the next Heads of Government Conference.
RESOLUTION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL STANDARDS BUREAU
The Governments of the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries recognising that the operation of a Free Trade Agreement and other regional Agreements will create the need for consistency of standards for manufactured goods throughout the region, hereby agrees that –
The United Nations Development Programme be requested to provide advice on the organisation of a regional standards bureau for those countries in the region which do not now possess and which do not propose to establish such an organisation and on the form of collaboration among standards bureaus in the region for the purpose of establishing common regional standards.
