[{"document_url": "http://csmeonline.org/news/press-releases/tag/csme", "unformatted_src": "/news/templates/cepon/images/sg-background.jpg", "src": "https://csmeonline.org/news/templates/cepon/images/sg-background.jpg", "formatted_filename": "sg background"}, {"document_url": "http://csmeonline.org/news/press-releases/tag/csme", "unformatted_src": "/news/templates/cepon/images/chair-background.jpg", "src": "https://csmeonline.org/news/templates/cepon/images/chair-background.jpg", "formatted_filename": "chair background"}, {"document_url": "http://csmeonline.org/news/press-releases/tag/csme", "unformatted_src": "/news/media/k2/items/cache/aa5045f13216477abf2a0e16a08acd59_Generic.jpg", "src": "https://csmeonline.org/news/media/k2/items/cache/aa5045f13216477abf2a0e16a08acd59_Generic.jpg", "formatted_filename": "aa f abf a e a acd Generic", "alt_text": "Honourable Mia Amor Motley, Prime Minster of Barbados"}, null, {"document_url": "http://csmeonline.org/news/press-releases/tag/csme", "unformatted_src": "/news/media/k2/items/cache/18cb4412b3fd96d4c2c15944894f7ea5_Generic.jpg", "src": "https://csmeonline.org/news/media/k2/items/cache/18cb4412b3fd96d4c2c15944894f7ea5_Generic.jpg", "formatted_filename": "cb b fd d c c f ea Generic", "alt_text": "Exploit efficiencies to deliver benefits for the people of CARICOM and to remain relevant"}, null, {"document_url": "http://csmeonline.org/news/press-releases/tag/csme", "unformatted_src": "/news/media/k2/items/cache/97d2860871f3d35e35f6eb0477d3015a_Generic.jpg", "src": "https://csmeonline.org/news/media/k2/items/cache/97d2860871f3d35e35f6eb0477d3015a_Generic.jpg", "formatted_filename": "d f d e f eb d a Generic", "alt_text": "Chairman of the CARICOM and Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, addressing the 39th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government (Photo via JIS"}, null, {"document_url": "http://csmeonline.org/news/press-releases/tag/csme", "unformatted_src": "/news/media/k2/items/cache/cc947675ce0ac0c98617f27425843c35_Generic.jpg", "src": "https://csmeonline.org/news/media/k2/items/cache/cc947675ce0ac0c98617f27425843c35_Generic.jpg", "formatted_filename": "cc ce ac c f c Generic", "alt_text": "Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness speaks in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 19). Seated at left is Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams."}, null, {"document_url": "http://csmeonline.org/news/press-releases/tag/csme", "unformatted_src": "/news/media/k2/items/cache/bd3346ba561b5b55180dd1441a09d1ee_Generic.jpg", "src": "https://csmeonline.org/news/media/k2/items/cache/bd3346ba561b5b55180dd1441a09d1ee_Generic.jpg", "formatted_filename": "bd ba b b dd a d ee Generic", "alt_text": "Participants at the Consultation i n Georgetown, Guyana"}, null, {"document_url": "http://csmeonline.org/news/press-releases/tag/csme", "unformatted_src": "/news/media/k2/items/cache/95a78f3015bd19286b33c65657114fc4_Generic.jpg", "src": "https://csmeonline.org/news/media/k2/items/cache/95a78f3015bd19286b33c65657114fc4_Generic.jpg", "formatted_filename": "a f bd b c fc Generic", "alt_text": "CARICOM Institutions talk CSME Free Movement of Persons"}, null, {"document_url": "http://csmeonline.org/news/press-releases/tag/csme", "unformatted_src": "http://www.csmeonline.org/news/modules/mod_news_pro_gk5/cache/k2.items.cache.c79015a227b446e15f181d145a9ed4a7_XSnsp-342.jpg", "src": "http://www.csmeonline.org/news/modules/mod_news_pro_gk5/cache/k2.items.cache.c79015a227b446e15f181d145a9ed4a7_XSnsp-342.jpg"}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://csmeonline.org/news/press-releases/tag/csme", "unformatted_src": "http://www.csmeonline.org/news/modules/mod_news_pro_gk5/cache/k2.items.cache.18cb4412b3fd96d4c2c15944894f7ea5_XSnsp-342.jpg", "src": "http://www.csmeonline.org/news/modules/mod_news_pro_gk5/cache/k2.items.cache.18cb4412b3fd96d4c2c15944894f7ea5_XSnsp-342.jpg"}, null, {"document_url": "http://csmeonline.org/news/press-releases/tag/csme", "unformatted_src": "http://www.csmeonline.org/news/modules/mod_news_pro_gk5/cache/k2.items.cache.97d2860871f3d35e35f6eb0477d3015a_XSnsp-342.jpg", "src": "http://www.csmeonline.org/news/modules/mod_news_pro_gk5/cache/k2.items.cache.97d2860871f3d35e35f6eb0477d3015a_XSnsp-342.jpg"}, null, {"document_url": "http://csmeonline.org/news/press-releases/tag/csme", "unformatted_src": "http://www.csmeonline.org/news/modules/mod_news_pro_gk5/cache/k2.items.cache.e02fde07d49ee258cc3f6d1b19207757_XSnsp-342.jpg", "src": "http://www.csmeonline.org/news/modules/mod_news_pro_gk5/cache/k2.items.cache.e02fde07d49ee258cc3f6d1b19207757_XSnsp-342.jpg"}, null]
Jamaica House Adopts Report on CARICOM

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 19) adopted the Report of the Commission to Review Jamaica’s Relations within the CARICOM and CARIFORUM Frameworks.

In his address to the House, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said that since tabling the report in February of this year, the entire region has awaited the Government’s final position on the document.

“I think it only appropriate that they be granted the requisite bipartisan consideration, so that they may be duly shared with my CARICOM colleagues for discussion at the upcoming Regular Meeting of the Conference in July,” the Prime Minister said.

He informed the Lower House that the Report has 33 key recommendations, which boldly project a way forward in addressing aspects of regional relationships that are not fully meeting their intended objectives.

“Our extensive review of the report has identified recommendations at various stages of readiness for implementation, including some that may not be within our reach at this time for various reasons,” Mr. Holness said.

Among the recommendations in the report are full free movement of people throughout the Community, subject only to exclusions for security and public health reasons; harmonisation of customs laws, regulations and procedures, especially in the treatment of perishable goods; and agreed protocols on sanitary and phytosanitary standards and procedures.

On the matter of integrated capital markets, the Prime Minister said it is believed that an agreed protocol for cross-border regulatory cooperation is essential to any custom union.

“In this regard, we support the view that this recommendation is attainable within the next three years. However, we are also mindful that many member states are currently at various stages of reform to bring their regulatory landscape in line with institutional standards. Consequently, there may be need to apply some flexibility with respect to the timeline for full implementation by all member states,” Mr. Holness said.

On the right of establishment, as well as the services market, Mr. Holness said these recommendations are well-founded, as member states participating in the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) have an obligation to remove restrictions on the right of establishment and the right to provide services across the region.

“In relation to the right of establishment, all member states are to pass the requisite Regulation to facilitate the movement of managerial, technical and supervisory staff. Jamaica is also assessing its implementation of the regime, to ensure that no further restrictions exist. Jamaica has enacted the Caribbean Community Establishment, Services, Capital and Movement of Community Nationals Act 2004,” Mr. Holness noted.

“From a legal perspective, the Commission’s proposal… on the full free movement of persons throughout the Community, which is subject only to exclusions for security and public health reasons, is quite feasible and consistent with the rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ),” he added.

The Prime Minister explained that it will now be a matter for the organs and bodies of CARICOM, in consultation with the respective members states, to decide whether these goals may be attainable within a five-year time period.

As it relates to the removal of all non-tariff barriers to trade, Mr. Holness said CARICOM has done considerable work in its efforts to implement a myriad of harmonisation protocols and policies to minimise obstacles to trade in this area.

These, he said, include the establishment of various regulatory mechanisms, namely the Caribbean Agriculture, Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) and CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ).

“Notwithstanding the existence of these mechanisms, as well as the various monitoring frameworks, there are still significant challenges being experienced as manifested in ongoing disputes among member states,” the Prime Minister argued.

For his part, Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Peter Phillips, also welcomed the report, noting that it is an “extensive and representative national effort,” which involved widespread consultations, not only within Jamaica but across the Caribbean.

“I think it represents an important and good starting point, and what I would propose is that it become the template that we should ask the assembled Heads of Government of CARICOM to utilise, as they collectively embrace the need to move forward to implement the single market and economy, and to review other aspects of the CARICOM experience,” Dr. Phillips said. (Jamaica Information Service Press Release) Stakeholders hone in on implementation as CSME Consultation gets underway

Is the architecture on which the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) was built appropriate today? Is the CSME overly ambitious? Is there political will and courage to continue the progress on the CSME? Why is there a deficit in the implementation of decisions?

Is the Region taking account of the global context? Are we ready for the changes that are coming? Is the capacity of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States adequate to put in place the infrastructure necessary for the CSME?

These were some of the questions that were raised on Friday as the Stakeholder Consultation on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) began at the Ramada Princess Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana.

See more photos here

CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, and Director, Economics Department at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Dr. Justin Ram set the tone of the two-day Consultation. They positioned the CSME as critical to the sustainable development of the Community and honed in on implementation as one of the major elements that needed to be tackled.

“The major focus should be on implementation”, Dr. Ram advised.

He added that new ways and a greater level of accountability needed to be found to tackle the implementation deficit. There also needed to be planning laboratories, and plans and budgets had to be communicated to the regional populace to elicit feedback and buy-in, he underscored.

Ambassador LaRocque said that while there was progress on the regional flagship programme, the agenda needed to move along much faster.

The time it was taking to get things done was a cost to the Region’s private sector and to the credibility of the Community, he pointed out. He advised that regional positions had to be adopted rather than national stances. He said the Consultation needed to produce concrete recommendations to put to Ministers and Heads of Government

A high level discussion on fixing the CSME featured presentations by Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves and former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Mr. Bruce Golding. (More details to follow).

The Consultation is being held with the support of the CDB.

The well-attended opening session that was live-streamed drew reactions from persons across the Region and in the Diaspora who weighed in on what they considered the challenges to the CSME and regional integration.

Panels throughout the day examined matters such as what the CSME objectives and priorities should be and the private sector and labour. Tomorrow, the Consultation will focus on free movement of persons and public awareness.
 CARICOM Institutions talk CSME Free Movement of Persons

