With the 28th Inter-Sessional Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government set to commence later this week, Caricom Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRoque on Monday, highlighted some of the major issues that would headline the two-day agenda.
Caricom Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRoque flanked by other officials of Caricom on Monday
The Regional meeting will open on Thursday at the Guyana Marriot International Hotel, Georgetown and will be chaired by President David Granger.
Among the issues to be addressed are the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), crime and security in the Region and economic development and international relations.
Ambassador LaRoque, speaking to journalists at the Caricom Secretariat on Monday, said the CSME remains undoubtedly the best vehicle to promote economic growth and development, and integration.
“The focus on that aspect of our integration is key at this time, as our member states seek to maximise opportunities for growth,” LaRoque said. He noted that fully utilising the provisions of the CSME will help all prospects for growth. The Ambassador said that while there has been significant progress made in the area of a “single market”, more still needs to be done for the “single economy.”
Last July, at the 37th Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Caricom Heads of Government, Regional leaders had asked for a review of the CSME. This review will be presented at the confab this week LaRoque assured.
Meanwhile, LaRoque said crime and security continues to pose a threat to the Community. He said it is not just a national issue in individual countries, as it also affects Caricom as a whole.
“It’s a Regional problem and hence it requires a Regional solution. You can very well appreciate that with the movement of people and free movement of cargo and the like the transport of crime, it is something that needs to be addressed.”
He said Caricom will continue to look at what can be done to address the issue at both the national and regional level, and will be pursuing more options as it seeks to reduce the level of criminal activities in the Region.
Other areas of special interests include the Guyana/Venezuela and Belize/Guatemala border controversies, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). ICT, he said, while it is a sector, it is also an enabler of the economy. Heads of Government over a year ago, had recommended that the Region begin pursuing a single ICT space, which will include largely regional harmonised ICT policy legislations, regulations, technical standards and best practices, along with network and services. This, he said, will effect roaming rates and provide for a single record, as well as address spectrum and broadband matters.
Where economic development is concerned, LaRoque said Caricom will be looking at corresponding banking, which also has an impact on financial transactions, including trade and remittances.
“In general, we have mounted a very active advocacy initiative and we have at least raised the awareness and engaged in discussions with various parties regarding the plights of the Region with regard to the withdrawal of correspondence banking.”
Meanwhile, LaRoque said Heads will also look at number of issues emerging internationally. He said the new issues on that front require that Heads of State strategize how the interest of the Community could be best served. He was asked specifically about Caricom’s intention to engage on the immigration policies enforced in the United States by the Donald Trump Administration.
“Our discussion will centre on how we engage to advance those issues that are critical to us going forward. That will be the tenure of the discussion that we’ll be having.”
