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Friday, July 6, 2007 – In reviewing his stewardship as CARICOM
Chairman for the past six months, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the
Grenadines, Dr the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves said, while much has been
accomplished, there is still work to be done, especially on the second phase of
the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
Speaking at the Official Opening of the 28th Meeting of the Conference of Heads
of Government of the Caribbean Community in Barbados, 1-4 July, Dr Gonsalves
said there would be on-going work required for the consolidation of the Single
Market and the initiation of particular steps in the Single Economy process.
Among the areas for continued focus, Dr Gonsalves said, are the bringing into
effect of the Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals Act in one Member State; the
establishment of the Competition Commission; the operationalisation of the
CARICOM Development Fund; the possible setting up of a Regional Development
Agency; the enlargement of the categories of employees in pursuance of the
objective of a freedom of movement of labour; and the conclusion of the
deliberations on the reformation of regional governance structures.
The immediate past Chairman of CARICOM said if the regional integration movement
is to survive and thrive, it must address practically the day-to-day concerns of
the people of the region and it must benefit all the member-countries.
Dr Gonsalves warned against paying lip service to the disadvantaged countries
within the Community, noting that the measures to assist them must not be
implemented in a manner which is a sham and pointed out that appropriate
provisions and mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that the all Member
States maximize the opportunities of the CSME.
Asserting that a functioning international airport is an absolute necessity in
any service-oriented economy, Dr Gonslaves seized the moment to advocate for
support from the Community in the building of two such airports; for his St.
Vincent and Grenadines and Dominica, both of which currently do not enjoy such
facilities.
He reminded the Community of impending vital external trade and economic
partnership agreements from Third States such as the USA, European Union, and
Canada and urged the Conference to proceed boldly, yet cautiously in those
arrangements, ensuring that the objectives of the community are fully realized.
He then charged Member States to assert themselves as part of a mature
Community. We in our region have come of age. And we must act maturely in the
interest of our own humanization. Our praxis must thus show that although
we are not better than anyone else, no one is better than us. This reflects our
essential and existential humanity and dignity, he concluded.
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