Guyana steadfast in helping to build prosperous, resilient Caricom – Ali

…extols benefits of integration in Caricom Day message

Extolling the benefits of integration to the Caribbean Community (Caricom) region, President Dr Irfaan Ali in his Caricom Day 2022 message made it clear that Guyana remains committed to making its contribution to the building of a prosperous, resilient and sustainable region.
The Treaty of Chaguaramas was signed 49 years ago, establishing Caricom and the Common Market. As a consequence, Guyana observes July 4 as a national holiday. As President Ali described it in his message, regional integration is still an ongoing exercise.

“As our community embarks on its 50th year, the coming 12 months are an opportune occasion for reflection on and a recommitment to the ideals of integration and towards advancing the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME),” the President said.
“Regional integration is an ongoing enterprise. Over the past 49 years, the Community has remained intact, its membership has increased, and it has expanded relations with countries, regions and groupings. Our community has survived the tempests of change and the turbulence of global challenges.”
Noting that Guyana is a founding member of Caricom, President Ali reiterated that Guyana remains committed to regional integration. He noted that through this, there is a greater prospect for betterment, prosperity and development that the Community, through the CSME. In fact, the President noted that the Region’s hopes and aspirations lie in securing the future for the Caribbean.
“As we collectively focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation, building resilience, enhancing and ensuring food and nutrition security, citizen security and energy security, improving access to financing and building social infrastructure, let us be mindful that in so doing, we are creating a more resilient and sustainable Caribbean.”
“In this regard, Guyana is vigorously exercising its role as Caricom lead on agriculture and food security. In May, we successfully hosted the inaugural Agri-Investment Forum and Expo. As we approach the halfway mark since the approval of the 25 by 2025 initiative to reduce the Region’s food import bill, we are generating impetus towards better enabling our Region to better feed itself,” President Ali said.
And with the 43rd Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) ongoing, President Ali noted that the leaders will be reviewing the overall progress towards integration and the CSME.
“The Region’s leadership is engaged in charting the way forward. Each one of us embodies Caricom. May we continue to go forward with unity of vision and purpose to deliver on our shared aspirations of a healthy, prosperous and resilient future!” President Ali further explained.
The President Ali-led Government has been at the forefront of an aggressive campaign to dismantle regional barriers to agricultural trade. President Ali has said that in the next four years, with the assistance of more diversified crops, Guyana would aim to reduce Caricom’s food import bill by 25 per cent.
Months after assuming office, President Ali had charged the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry to assess and address the hurdles related to exporting food and agricultural products to markets within the Region. As such, concerns about barriers to trade in some Caricom markets were raised with the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) earlier this year.
The Ministry subsequently formed a National Working Group on Barriers to Trade against Exports from Guyana. According to the assessment on market access by the Working Group, most of the challenges found were related to technical measures including sanitary and phytosanitary measures. It also found several technical and administrative regulations that were all hampering the export of Guyanese products.
The Caribbean Community and Common Market was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which was signed by Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago, and came into effect on August 1, 1973. Subsequently, the other eight Caribbean territories joined Caricom. The Bahamas became the 13th Member State of the Community on July 4, 1983, but not a member of the Common Market.
In July 1991, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos became Associated Members of Caricom, followed by Anguilla in July 1999. The Cayman Islands became the fourth Associate Member of the regional grouping on May 16, 2002, and Bermuda the fifth Associate Member on July 2, 2003.
Suriname became the 14th Member State of the Caribbean Community on July 4, 1995.
Haiti secured provisional membership on July 4, 1998, and on July 3, 2002 was the first French-speaking Caribbean State to become a full member of Caricom. (G3)