The CSME is more than a policy framework—it is a gateway to economic empowerment, mobility, and innovation for young people. It is the key that allows a young Tobagonian entrepreneur to scale their business beyond our shores, a recent graduate to find work in another CARICOM state without unnecessary barriers…
Trinidad and Tobago’s CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Luke James-Trim
Trinidad and Tobago’s CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Luke James-Trim, says now is the time to take the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) from policy to practice to benefit young entrepreneurs in the Region.
“For too long, we in the Caribbean have spoken about potential without fully seizing the mechanisms designed to unlock it. The CSME is more than a policy framework—it is a gateway to economic empowerment, mobility, and innovation for young people. It is the key that allows a young Tobagonian entrepreneur to scale their business beyond our shores, a recent graduate to find work in another CARICOM state without unnecessary barriers…” asserted the CYA.
Speaking to stakeholders at the CARICOM CSME National Consultation in Tobago on Friday, 21 March, the Youth Ambassador illustrated how the CSME could propel young entrepreneurs from local-based businesses to region-wide franchises and outlets through the freedom of movement of people, goods and services.
He referred to Tobago as having a unique economic and geographical landscape and emphasised that it has a chance to be a leader in the integration process. The CYA described a future in which Tobagonian businesses can expand into the wider Caribbean and young professionals seamlessly move between Member States, gaining experience and driving innovation.
“That future is within reach, but only if we collectively take ownership of the CSME’s implementation,” he asserted.
The CSME National Consultations have been completed in five (5) CARICOM Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The intention is to enhance awareness of national procedures and processes for CSME implementation. The 11th European Development Fund (EDF) – Strengthening Framework for CARICOM Integration and Cooperation Processes (SFCICP) – supports the sessions.
Please read Luke’s complete remarks below:
Welcome Remarks – CARICOM CSME National Consultation (Tobago)
By Luke James-Trim, CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Trinidad and Tobago
It is truly an honour to welcome you all to this important national consultation on the
implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) right here in the
beautiful island, Tobago. Today is not just another meeting—it is a defining moment for us to
chart a future where young people, especially those from Tobago, can fully access the
opportunities that regional integration promises.
For too long, we in the Caribbean have spoken about potential without fully seizing the
mechanisms designed to unlock it. The CSME is more than a policy framework—it is a gateway
to economic empowerment, mobility, and innovation for young people. It is the key that allows a
young Tobagonian entrepreneur to scale their business beyond our shores, a recent graduate to
find work in another CARICOM state without unnecessary barriers, and most importantly, you all
may know it as freedom of movement… but the CSME provides us a young people with the
opportunity to catch flights and not what? …..
But here’s the question: how do we ensure that young people in Tobago and across the
Caribbean are truly benefiting from the CSME? How do we move from policy to practice?
As CARICOM Youth Ambassador, I have been actively engaging young people across various
platforms, advocating for greater awareness and accessibility to the opportunities within
CARICOM. I have been working to demystify the CSME, ensuring that it is not just a technical
term in a treaty but a lived reality for young entrepreneurs, students, and professionals. Whether
through digital campaigns, community engagement, or policy discussions, the message is clear:
the CSME must work for young people, and young people must be at the table shaping its
implementation.
Tobago, with its unique economic and geographical landscape, has a chance to be a leader in
this integration process. Imagine a future where Tobagonian businesses easily expand into the
wider Caribbean, where young professionals seamlessly move between Member States, gaining
experience and driving innovation. That future is within reach, but only if we collectively take
ownership of the CSME’s implementation.
So today, as we engage in this national consultation, I urge us all—government officials, private
sector leaders, civil society, and most importantly, young people—to not just listen but to
contribute meaningfully. The decisions made here will determine whether the CSME truly
delivers for the next generation.
Let us not settle for conversations that end in the room. Let us ensure that this dialogue
translates into action, policies, and reforms that make a real difference. Because at the heart of
regional integration is a simple but powerful idea: our strength lies in our unity, and our future is
ours to build.
Thank you, and let’s get to work!
