New ideas to push region forward - JamaicaObserver.com

Saturday, November 07, 2009 11:07 AM

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New ideas to push region forward

BY RICKEY SINGH, Observer Caribbean correspondent

Saturday, July 04, 2009

GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Two new ideas for improved governance and avoidance of conflicts in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) are in circulation here as the 30th Heads of Government Co nference draws to a close this evening.

One proposal is for the appointment of a high-level independent facilitator to help heads of government and the community secretariat remove barriers that impede expeditious implementation of decisions and related conflicts.

This idea, the Observer was informed, is expected to emerge in consideration of one of five declarations listed for approval for official release with the close of the three-day summit.

The other proposed initiative, credited to Jamaica's Prime Minister Bruce Golding and reportedly raised at the first 'Caucus of Heads' on Thursday, calls for the establishment of a permanent high-level body, comprising representatives of all 15 member countries of the community with speedy resolution of conflicts as a primary mandate.

It is envisaged that this body, likely to be known as a Permanent Commission of Caricom Representatives (PCCR), or similar mechanism, will fulfil its mandate in direct consultation with the respective governments and the community secretariat.

The intention is not for the commission to supersede the Community Secretariat, but the precise modalities of its functions, as well as longevity and base of operations are still to be determined by further deliberations, possibly at another caucus session today.

On the other hand, the proposal for appointment of a special facilitator no longer than three years, suggests that he/she would not be required to have executive authority but functions with a status of a cabinet minister to enable direct access to heads of government and their ministers, as well as the secretary general and other officials of the community in helping to quickly resolve problems as they arise.

Two of the major problems that have given rise to new initiatives to unlock spreading problems affecting the Community's progress in achieving set goals for its current single market and the single economy to be inaugurated by 2015, revolve around free intra-regional trade and free movement of Caricom nationals. The latter is a major source of tension among some governments.

As the proposed initiatives are being considered, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning, has warned that the 36-year-old economic integration movement was "at the crossroads" and deciding on a new and effective form of governance was "crucial".

For Jamaica's former prime minister, PJ Patterson, "collapse" of the integration movement was "not an option". However, the member governments must realise that the "credibility of Caricom was now at stake" and hard decisions, including its improved governance, could not be further postponed.

Golding, in the meanwhile, views the issues of free trade and free movement of community nationals as being "at the heart" of current problems that pose serious threats to Caricom's survival as originally conceived.

Both of these sensitive issues were raised at Thursday's caucus, but deliberations were inconclusive because of the absence of prime ministers Denzil Douglas (St Kitts), Roosevelt Skerrit (Dominica), and Ralph Gonsalves (St Vincent and the Grenadines), who could not arrive in time for the session due to prior commitments.

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