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Heads of Government and Leaders of Parliamentary Opposition agree on advancing the CSME


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CARICOM Heads of Government and Leaders of Parliamentary Opposition discussing issues

CARICOM Heads of Government and Leaders of Parliamentary Opposition discussing issues

Sunday, July 03, 2005 – The historic meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government and Leaders of Parliamentary Opposition ended in Saint Lucia Saturday 2nd July with the two sides agreeing on measures to advance the CARICOM Single Market and Economy CSME.

At a press conference following the meeting, representatives of heads of government and leaders of parliamentary opposition said the meeting was a good first step in broadening the dialogue and widening the boundaries of governance.

A six-member team of Heads of Government and Parliamentary Opposition Leaders will meet to fine tune the recommendations coming out of Saturday’s meeting. The opposition leaders of Jamaica, Dominica and Guyana will make up the opposition team while the Heads of Government will decide on the composition of their team at a later date.

Prime Minister of Barbados Honourable Owen Arthur said a big decision was for efforts to take the entire region into the confidence of government in respect of all aspects of the CSME. He said there a view is that there is a danger of the CSME going on a two track pace process and “we, at this juncture, want to avoid that.”

Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition of Jamaica Bruce Golding said the meeting was useful. He said he was pleased with a decision taken to provide the opposition with all material relevant to the establishment of the CSME.

While the two parties reached consensus on many of the agenda issues the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) remains an issue on which the two sides have not agreed. Mr Golding said the opposition in Jamaica remains adamant that a final appellate court will not get the support of opposition without a referendum.

He said any institution which will cause a degree of cessation of sovereignty should get the endorsement of the people. He added that the Opposition’s position in Jamaica is not an opposition to the establishment of the CCJ but rather to some of the provisions on how the court is appointed and judges elected. Mr. Golding supported a proposal for simultaneous referenda across the region on the establishment of the CCJ. He said this is advisable because some to the countries of the region demand such an exercise as stipulated by their constitution. He added that if the referenda are held at the same time it will take away the danger of the outcome of a referendum in one country influencing the result in another.

Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Dr. Denzil Douglas was optimistic about building consensus on the CCJ indicating that “the stage was set for continued debate and all agree of necessity to have the court established. The main stumbling block is how we are certain the sovereignty will be maintained in the way the court is being conceived.”

The incoming Chairman of CARICOM Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Honourable Dr Kenny Anthony promised a technical team to meet with the Jamaica opposition to dialogue on the concerns regarding the establishment of the CCJ.


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