“Caricom is in danger” – PJ Patterson warns

– say regional integration is imperative

By Samuel Sukhnandan

Former Jamaican Prime Minister Percival J Patterson said “Caricom is in danger” and unless regional governments start using its collective strengths to tackle challenging issues, its future development could be threatened.  The eminent Caricom statesman was at the time delivering the feature address at the Rotary Club of Georgetown, World Understanding Month dinner held at the Pegasus Hotel on Monday.
Patterson told a large gathering of Rotarians, politicians, businessmen, women and other distinguished guests that the time is now to make the change for the betterment of all Caribbean people. Patterson said a concerted effort on the part of all heads of government, opposition parties and non-governmental organizations, is needed to ensure that the purpose of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) is fulfilled.
He said: “In a time of severe constraints, Caricom heads will have to decide on priorities… and set a specific time table on competing areas to accelerate regional growth and development.” Patterson reflected on the treaty of Chaguaramas and the establishment of Caricom back in 1973, where Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago joined forces to create a common market for the region.
He noted that while there are many criticisms and uncertainty about the relevance and purpose of Caricom, one must take into account several factors that have helped to move the region forward. According to him, it is under this body that the region has seen a good record of functional cooperation, especially in relation to education, health, response to natural disasters and areas of development financing.
Despite the hiccups that are often evident, Patterson noted that Caricom has been able to dismantle the barriers of trade and commerce that previously existed in the Caribbean.“The single market is now well established, but much more can be done to stimulate more regional commerce,” he explained.
Further, he said “both in the field of international diplomacy and the arenas of global trade and commerce, Caricom has been united loud and unequivocal, not always listed with positive responses from the more industrial nations.” Another achievement he pointed to was the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which serves all Caricom member states.

Regional integration imperative
In pointing to some of the weaknesses of Caricom, Patterson went on to question the reason behind the Caricom passport. He noted that the passport has not been serving its purpose, given the fact that free movement of skills and travelling is still a difficult issue and is not welcome by most member states.
“What is the purpose of the passport,” he emphasised. The Jamaican leader said when the region hosted World Cup Cricket, foreigners were allowed to travel freely, but persons within the region who had a Caricom passport were given a difficult time, and had to identify their nationality before being granted entry.
“Let me make it clear, as of now, some of these urgent steps are required to rescue Caricom, or else life of course may come too late to prevent permanent coma.” He said fresh initiatives are needed to ignite meaningful engagement, and the interests of Caribbean people to foster development and growth for the region. While acknowledging that political leaders now are confronted with more major challenges, he said teamwork is needed to move forward.
According to him, while the U.S. intends to introduce financial regulation or provide information on deposit and investment from American citizens and residents, Caricom members should now reciprocate and demand of them that they must supply information of people from the Caribbean who have funding and savings in their financial institutions.

Domestic priorities
He believes that every regional government is obsessed in the search of tackling its own domestic problems and is abandoning the search for “sound regional packages that will help to take us all out of the economic morass which threatens the whole Caribbean.”
“There are distinct areas where we all can benefit from a collective approach in finding solutions which sustain regional trust, rather than becoming a room within each national respective framework.”
Patterson said less talk and more action about possibilities to explore agricultural production in Guyana, Belize and Trinidad and Tobago should be taken now. This, he said will enable for a self-sufficient region, in providing food. On this note, he said Caricom members states should tap into opportunities of trade with new economic powers such as Brazil, India, China and South Africa.
He added: “However, most importantly, building a knowledge economy holds the key for the survival and future prosperity of the entire Caribbean. The building and accumulation of our human capital is the only way forward.”