Before the beginning of our business here today, I would like to pause to pay tribute to Margaret Kalloo, former Deputy Programme Manager in the Agriculture Unit of the Secretariat.
We, at the Secretariat, are in a reflective mode following Margaret’s death last week. Margaret almost single-handedly designed and carried the Regional SPS Programme and through her many years of hard work and perseverance was instrumental in the creation of the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), which became operational on 1 October this year.
Honourable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen, on reviewing the agenda for this Meeting, it strikes me that some of these issues have been before us for some time now. And when I ask myself how much progress we have made on them, I have to answer in all honesty “not enough”. Not enough to satisfy ourselves, or the citizens of the Community whom we are here to serve.
Heads of Government have recognized that amid the triumph of creating and sustaining a Caribbean Community, there is still room for improvement.
That is why they mandated two things:
(1) the creation of the first-ever Community Strategic Plan, with a limited number of concrete, achievable priorities; and
(2) reform of the governance and operations of all parts of the Community, beginning with the Secretariat.
Preparation of the implementation plan for the Strategic Plan is nearing completion, and will be presented to the Community Council in January. The reform of the Secretariat has started, though it is still in the early stages.
But the Secretariat cannot do this work alone.
We can only do it in partnership with Community Institutions and Member States.
I am happy to report that following a recent meeting with Heads of CARICOM Institutions, our working relationship is much closer than ever before. We are committed to a common system of planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and accountability. And we are coordinating our communications efforts to let the people of the Region know what CARICOM as a whole is doing for them.
This morning, I want to invite Member States to step up in a similar way: to work together as a Community to make concrete progress in advancing the agenda of regional co-operation and integration, thereby achieving tangible benefits for all our peoples.
In other words: turn the spirit of our Community into reality.
Our Heads of Government have championed the Community spirit and their decisions clearly reflect that spirit. As implementers of their decisions, we all have a responsibility to ensure that their vision for the Community is realized.
Let me identify five specific areas where the Agenda before the COTED provides opportunities to do this – opportunities which we should and must seize.
#1: Strategic Directions for Growth and Development
It is commendable that the COTED is revisiting its own strategic direction. I am confident that you will do so in the light of the recently-adopted five-year Community Strategic Plan, which sets out the priorities for the Region.
No doubt, your discussions will focus on COTED’s role in achieving sustainable economic growth and development and on many other related issues, such as:
• human capital development to ensure the availability of necessary skills;
• ICT development, including the strategic priority of moving towards a single ICT space for the Region;
• energy efficiency; and
• the work of other bodies such as the Commission on the Economy, focusing on economic recovery, and the Regional Transportation Commission, dealing with intra-Caribbean travel.
A critical strategic issue we must address is how we can strengthen the CSME to deliver on growth and development.
This brings me to my second point:
#2 Strengthening the Operation and Effectiveness of the CARICOM Single Market
The CSME remains the best platform for the economic growth and human development of our Region.
Accelerating its implementation and use is the first of the eleven highest priorities identified by the Heads in the Community Strategic Plan.
The Single Market has been in operation for some time and is under constant review to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness. Recent studies have confirmed that the arrangements for the operation of the Single Market are not as effective as they should be. Some of the issues that still need to be addressed relate to harmonisation and standardization in legislative, administrative and institutional areas.
The proposal before you today on strengthening the operations of the Single Market is therefore critical to improving the effectiveness of the CSME and putting Member States in a better position to move to the next phase of its implementation.
#3: Free Movement of People
To the average person on the street, the success of CARICOM is measured by his or her ability to move freely around the Region, in accordance with Community decisions which form part of our body of Community law. Our less than complete success in turning the concept of free movement, as agreed, into real personal experience has undermined our credibility as a Community.
While all of us in this room can attest to a functioning Free Movement Regime where the majority of citizens can move hassle-free, the reality is that the exception to the rule creates a damaging perception in the minds of our people. We must therefore ensure that CARICOM nationals who may feel aggrieved by the treatment received by border officials have access to a mechanism that addresses their complaints. The CCJ has pronounced on this.
All of us, the Secretariat included, must revisit our public education programmes. We must endeavour to focus on the positives of regional integration and not always on the negatives.
The media has a critical role to play in this exercise. As citizens of the Caribbean Community, we all have a stake in the success of CARICOM. Let us therefore work together in promoting the spirit of regionalism.
#4: Re-Engagement with the Private Sector
Two complementary elements essential to advancing the growth and development agenda for the Region are: an efficient and modernized public service; and an effective and empowered private sector. Moreover, the two must work together synergistically, towards common goals.
The COTED took the lead in May of this year by meeting in special session with the private sector, after a hiatus of some years. Two months later, Heads of Government met with regional business leaders. By all accounts, the private sector welcomes these interactions and is enthusiastic about playing its full part in the growth and development of the Region.
It is in that context that I commend to your attention the recommendations of the Re-Engagement Roadmap that are before you at this Meeting.
Fifth and finally,
#5: Negotiations for a CARICOM-Canada Trade and Development Agreement
It proved impossible to conclude these negotiations by the agreed deadline of 30 June 2014.
In an effort to move the process forward, a package of proposals has been developed, under my direction, for consideration by the Heads of Government. If accepted, it would be submitted to Canada with an aim of securing their return to the negotiating table.
The package of proposals has been circulated to the COTED, and I look forward to your positive response.
Honourable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Before I conclude, permit me to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to two long-standing stalwarts of regional integration – Ivor Carryl and Bentley Gibbs.
Ivor who currently, serves as Programme Manager at the CSME Unit in Barbados has decided to move on to other endeavours, that after many years of dedicated service. Most of you in this room will recognize Ivor as one of the chief architects of the CSME.
And my dear friend Bentley, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados, and I might add, devout integrationist. Bentley will be remembered for his strategic thinking, his spirit of compromise, and his personal contribution to advancing our integration arrangements, especially when difficult decisions are to be made.
Both Ivor and Bentley have made tremendous contributions and had great positive impact on the Region. We will miss them.
Honourable Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
All that is left for me to do now is to wish you fruitful, productive deliberations over the next two days.
I thank you.
