By Liz Rahaman
Heads of Governments of the 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are to consider new proposals that would allow the free movement of an expanded category of workers across the region when they meet for their 27th Conference in St. Kitts/Nevis from July 3 to 6.
Assistant Secretary-General responsible for Regional Trade and Economic Integration Erwin LaRock, told regional journalists during a teleconference from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) on Tuesday, that the expanded category under the free movement of skills provision stated in the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) would include hospitality workers, artisans, domestics, nurses and teachers.
“We are hoping by the time the Conference is convened that this element goes into the report and that we can go forward on how to implement the movement of these additional skilled nationals, ” he said. Already, the Protocols governing the free movement of media workers, Sports Persons and Athletes, University Graduates and Musicians have been established and implemented by Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Suriname from January this year.
LaRock anticipates that at the end of the July Conference, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia would become party to the common market.
The provisions of the CSME provide for the free movement of goods and services, the free movement of nationals, capital and the rights to establish business.
Established Institutions to give support and effect to the revised Treaty of Chagaramus include the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the Competition Commission to come on stream in July next year and an Accreditation Body to oversee the movement of skills and service providers across member states.
However, a critical pillar to the CSME is the Regional Development Fund (RDF), which requires a capital injection of US$250M to become fully operational. LaRock explained that member states are to contribute US$120M with a substantial amount coming from the Trinidad and Tobago Petroleum Fund.
With cap in hand, Secretary-General Edwin Carrington and Prime Minister Owen Arthur, who has responsibility for the CSME, have had positive indications from donor agencies to assist the Fund.
“The response from donor agencies are very encouraging,” the ASG said and explained that the RDF is an instrument that will help transform the regional economies to become more effective. It is grounded in Chapter 7 of the Treaty, which speaks to Disadvantage sectors and countries in the Region.
Meanwhile SG Carrington informed the media that St. Kitts/Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas is slated to assume the Chairmanship of CARICOM and by extension would also head the Bureau of Heads of Government from July to December 31, 2006. Other Heads of the Bureau are outgoing Chairman Patrick Manning of Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’s Ralph Gonsalves along with Carrington.
High up on this year’s agenda are the reintegration of Haiti into the Community’s fold and the CSME.
Other issues for discussion are Regional Security, HIV/AIDS, Sugar and Agriculture including Banana, External Trade Negotiations, Energy Resources, Cricket World Cup 2007, Information Technology, Culture and Boarder disputes and controversies that exist between Guyana and Suriname and Belize and Guatemala.
Speakers at the opening ceremony on July 3 include Prime Ministers Denzil Douglas, Patrick Manning, Ralph Gonsalves, Portia Simpson-Miller, President Rene Preval of Haiti and SG Carrington.
