Parliamentarians from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) last week in Belize debated critical and important issues affecting the Region and the process of Regional Integration. The Region’s Parliamentarians have pledged their support towards the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the flag ships of the regional integration movement.
Following two days of intensive discussions, nine Resolutions were passed at the Third Meeting of the Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians (ACCP), the deliberative and consultative body of CARICOM, which brings together the people’s representatives of both Government and Opposition members of the national Parliaments of CARICOM Member and Associate Member States.
CARICOM Secretary-General, Mr. Edwin Carrington, described as critically important the growth and development which “our institutions represent in the achievement of the viable Caribbean Community to which we all aspire and to which we are all committed”, and he urged full support in ensuring that “the institutions we create are fully supported to ensure that they make the contribution for which they were designed”.
The CARICOM Forum in traditional parliamentary pomp and ceremonial opening, was also addressed by Belize’s Governor-General, Sir Colville Young, and Prime Minister, the Hon. Said Musa who set the tone of the deliberations which, in the main, provided greater opportunity for public involvement in the regional integration process through the people’s representatives in order to better prepare Caribbean Youth, women and the Region as a whole to face the challenges of the future.
The Assembly urged CARICOM States to demand greater consultation and democratization with respect to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation in Development (OECD) harmful tax competition issues. This was in support of CARICOM leaders latest move when, at the Twenty First Meeting of the Conference earlier this year, the Heads affirmed that international rules must be made and applied democratically based on accepted principles and norms. The leaders had expressed readiness to address any concerns of the OECD in the appropriate multilateral forum, based on such accepted principles and norms.
Regarding CARICOM/Central America relations, the Assembly called on CARICOM Governments to enhance the economic and trade co-operation links with their hemispheric neighbours.
The Assembly adopted the Motion introduced by CARICOM’s Secretary-General Mr Edwin W. Carrington for the ACCP to establish relations with similar Parliamentary bodies in selected regional groupings. The Resolution also empowers the Speaker with the responsibility for implementation and to report to the next Sitting of the Assembly.
The Assembly also took note of the proposed establishment of the Caribbean Movement of Parliamentarians for Population and Development (CMPP), and adopted a Resolution on the Guyana/Venezuela controversy with regards to Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s territory in the Essequibo county.
In recognising the importance of all sections of society in the growth and development of regional integration and cooperation, the just concluded Assembly pledged its support to regional governments in the fight against the deadly HIV/AIDS epidemic and substance abuse. The Parliamentarians will also support initiatives aimed at addressing issues concerning strengthening the role of women in Politics, youth unemployment, adolescent reproductive health care and rights, and Youth participation in decision-making.
The Assembly also urged government and non-government participation in the various events being promoted to support the Summit of the Americas.
A Resolution was also passed by the Assembly in support of the fostering of Caribbean-wide integration/co-operation through the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). The Assembly called on and urged all CARICOM Governments to promote the objectives of the ACS in tangible ways to ensure the economic prosperity and well being of the peoples of the Region.
