Chairperson calls for unity to crush economic, developmental woes

COTED 43rd confab

The numerous challenges facing the Caribbean Community (Caricom) could be addressed, if only countries would come together as a unit; strengthening relationships and achieving economic growth.

This was the sentiment expressed by Chair of Caricom’s Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and Minister of Trade and Industry of Suriname, Sieglien Burleson, as she delivered remarks at the opening ceremony of the organisation’s 43rd Meeting, held Thursday at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Guyana.
The opening saw a gathering of Caribbean ministers with responsibility for trade.
Burleson said the Caribbean region continues to face many challenges, and as such, it needs to enhance productivity and sustainable growth since these challenges raise many questions regarding the Region’s ability to transform its economic base.
“The time has come for us as a council responsible for trade and economic development, to really bring trade and economic development to the region through strong institutions and partnering with the private sector”, Burleson said.
According to the COTED Chair, since the establishment of the CSME, the goal has been to achieve regional integration and economic growth within the community.
“It is my opinion that now is the time for us as a community to work together to strengthen our relationships and achieve economic growth for everyone in the region. We cannot afford to have issues like refusal of market taxes, burdensome administrative procedures in place between each other. Let us work together to achieve the bigger goal.”
She pointed to other important issues on the table which will support growth and development and urged that decisions must be taken to determine the way forward.
Issues affecting Caricom
She said the world’s economy is experiencing difficulties- issues that are also affecting Caricom.
“The Caricom is also affected by those developments, new regional developments that are on the agenda for deliberation that definitely will have a big impact on what we are doing. To face this, the time is now, more than ever, that our institutions are strengthened; as well as we work together to tackle this. We have a lot of hard work ahead, while we strive to deliver in these two days,” the Chair said.
Also addressing the confab was Joseph Cox, Caricom’s Assistant Secretary General for Trade and Economic Development.
Cox cautioned that the agenda before them was huge. He said although most of the items would not be new, they all require intense consideration, given that they are all matters that are crucial to the effective functioning of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).
“The matters before you are wide-ranging in both content and scope, and your discourse will inform the CSME review that was mandated by our Heads of Government and which will be tabled at their intercessional meeting in February”, he informed the COTED confab.
Speaking on the external trade front, Cox said trade agreements with Cuba and the Dominican Republic, as well as responses to the decision by the United Kingdom to exit the European Union, require the full attention of the attendees.
“The COTED will also be asked to approve a range of quality standards for goods and service providers. A roadmap for a Caribbean Regulatory System for Medicines, and intersectoral action against non-communicable diseases, are two health matters that we must consider at this meeting”.
He continued: “Honourable Ministers, each item on the agenda of this meeting is of profound importance to our Community. Our people are anxious for us to succeed and have therefore been clamouring for faster decision-making and implementation of our commitments.”
Cox said that in a fairly short time-frame, there has been a significant shift in attitudes to trade. He said there has been a marked tendency among some political forces in other parts of the world to point the finger of blame at the free interchange of goods, services and persons for any number of economic or social ills that may affect their societies.
“I say this because we — as the longest-standing integration movement among developing countries — should not consider ourselves immune to such tendencies. So, our work is cut out for us, and our task is to ensure that all our actions are pragmatic and strategic, and all the structures that we create are economically prudent and responsive to the wishes of the people of the Community. We must continue to build a robust trade and economic environment in which innovation is encouraged, and where benefits are distributed equitably. If we can do this, we will have created a durable vehicle for our growth and development”, Cox said.
The meeting will come to an end today.