Caribbean Trade Law and Development

Tag: CARICOM

  • Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – June 6 – 12, 2021

    Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – June 6 – 12, 2021

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest for the week of June 6-12, 2021! We are pleased to bring you the major trade and development news headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    Lots of interesting developments happened this week. Where do we start? Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) are meeting in Cornwall, United Kingdom (UK) on June 11-13, for their first in-person G7 summit since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the decisions so far has been a declaration on pandemics and a commitment to increase climate change finance contributions.

    Ahead of the Summit, US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed on a New Atlantic Charter covering US-UK bilateral and multilateral cooperation in a number of areas, including climate change and security. Access the new document and the Joint Statement by the two leaders here.

    Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica has been chosen to be the new head of UNCTAD, becoming the first Central American to hold the position and the first woman appointed. She will take over from interim SG Isabelle Durant. Read more here

    According to a WTO press release, WTO members have moved closer to a text-based process to address the proposals put forward by delegations aimed at improving the international response to COVID-19 and to providing equitable access for COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies. Read here.

    US Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Katherine Tai outlined the Biden Administration’s “Worker-Centred Trade Policy”. Read her full remarks doing so here.

    Post-Brexit relations between the UK and the European Union (EU) remain tense as the latter has fired a warning that it would react swiftly if the UK acted alone to change post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland. Read the full story here.

    Articles on the Proposed Global Minimum Corporate Income Tax

    I was pleased to co-author an article with Tammi Pilgrim entitled “What might the proposed global minimum corporate income tax mean for Caribbean International Financial Centres (IFCs)?”. I thank the Barbados Business Authority (the leading business magazine in Barbados) and Barbados Today for publishing.

    I also highly recommend Bruce Zagaris’ excellent recent article for Tax Notes on this same issue here.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Caricom concerned about G7 tax initiative

    Jamaica Observer: Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General Irwin LaRocque says Caribbean countries must be “concerned about the soundings” being made by the Group of Seven (G7) nations that last week announced a landmark deal that could help countries collect more taxes from big companies and enable governments to impose levies on United States tech giants such as Amazon and Facebook. Read more

    There could be greater achievements, says CARICOM SG

    Jamaica Observer: Outgoing Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General Irwin LaRocque is suggesting that “another mechanism” be utilised in getting member countries to greater strengthen their existing cooperation and collaboration for the future development of the region. Read more

    Irwin LaRocque recommends other mechanism for quicker implementation of CARICOM decisions

    Dominica Online: Outgoing Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque is proposing that another mechanism be put in place to speed up the implementation of decisions for greater achievement among countries in the region. Read more

    Campbell to CARICOM: Build resilience at front end of all future planning

    EyeWitness News: If the global COVID-19 Pandemic has taught regional countries one lesson, it would be the need for regional planners to place greater focus on building resilience at the front end of all future planning to create sustainable, preventative programmes for potential crises. Read more

    Tobacco sector generates more than 110,800 jobs in the Dominican Republic

    Dominican Today: Of the 15 products leading the Dominican Republic’s total exports during 2021, tobacco (or cigars) ranks second, trailing only gold, according to data published by the Dominican Republic’s Export and Investment Center (ProDominicana). Read more

    The US continues as the DR’s main export destination

    Dominican Today: According to data published by the Center for Exportation and Investment of the Republic Dominicana, of the 15 products that lead the total exports of the Dominican Republic during 2021, tobacco (or cigars) occupies second place, only remaining below gold (ProDominicana). Read more

    Cuba suspending cash bank deposits in dollars, citing U.S. sanctions

    Reuters: Cuba said on Thursday it would temporarily stop accepting cash bank deposits in dollars, blaming tighter U.S. sanctions that are restricting its ability to use greenbacks abroad, although it will still accept transfers. Read more

    Cuba: locally-made disposable face masks to be sold

    OnCuba: The distribution of Cuban masks will begin with health workers, while their commercialization will be carried out in establishments in freely convertible currency and in others in Cuban pesos (CUP) “at very affordable prices.” Read more

    Dominica Signs Agreement To Begin Construction Of International Airport

    News 784: A monumental signing for the Commonwealth of Dominica’s international airport took place at Windsor Park Stadium on Wednesday. The agreement saw the Government of Dominicaand Montreal Management Consultants (MMCE) move one step closer to the development and construction of the airport. Read more

    GOB Optimistic that Belize will see an Increase in Exports to Guatemala

    LoveFM: Following the formalities between the leaders and delegations for Belize and Guatemala, the official discussions began with one of the main topics being the idea of a partial scope agreement. Read more

    Antigua calls for tax cuts in airline ticket prices in region

    Jamaica Observer: Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the novel coronavirus pandemic has provided Caribbean governments with the opportunity to implement tax cuts for airline tickets across the region. Read more

    52nd meeting of COTED: emerging issues on regional affairs

    Jamaica Gleaner: The Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held its 52nd session virtually on June 1-2. It was chaired by Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith. Read more

    Vietnam, Barbados examine ways to step up bilateral cooperation

    VoV: Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela, and Barbados Le Viet Duyen on June 3 had an online meeting with Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados Simone Rudder to discuss bilateral cooperative ties between the two countries. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    No movement: UK, EU show little sign of defusing post-Brexit row

    CNBC: Britain and the European Union showed little sign of defusing a post-Brexit trade dispute on Saturday, with both sides repeating their opposing positions even after U.S. President Joe Biden encouraged them to find a compromise. Read more

    ‘Whatever it takes’, UK’s Johnson warns EU over post-Brexit trade

    Reuters: Britain will do “whatever it takes” to protect its territorial integrity in a trade dispute with the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday, threatening emergency measures if no solution was found. Read more

    Figures show Brexit continues to depress trade with EU

    Independent: Brexit is continuing to depress UK trade with the EU, with total imports and exports of goods in the first four months of this year down by a quarter compared to 2019, according to new official figures. Read more

    Ambassador Tai Outlined Biden’s Goal of Worker-Focused Trade Policy

    New York Times: The U.S. trade representative called for stronger worker protections in trade policy as the administration looks to curb the negative impact of globalization. Read more

    US, EU, and the unmaking of Donald Trump’s trade war

    DW: Brussels and Washington are expected to put an end to much of the trade tensions fueled by the former US president. DW takes a look at the various trade crises that have strained relations between the two allies. Read more

    EU in talks with US, UK on mutual recognition of COVID-19 travel certificates

    Euractiv: The European Commission is discussing with the United States and the United Kingdom the recognition of the COVID-19 travel certificate that will come into force in July in the EU, the European Commissioner for Justice has announced. Read more

    EU ministers approve strategy on climate change adaptation

    Euractiv: European Union environment ministers on Thursday (10 June) approved the EU’s new climate change adaptation strategy, which sets out a vision up to 2050 to make Europe resilient and “fully adapted to its inevitable impacts”. Read more

    UK-Africa Forum on Trade, Policy and Reform to examine the future of trade and avenues for policy reform

    Africa News: Invest Africa (www.InvestAfrica.com), a Pan-African business and investment platform, aims to build constructive dialogue between policy makers and business leaders from the UK and Africa during the Forum. James Duddridge MP, Minister for Africa, Emma Wade-Smith OBE, H.M. Trade Commissioner for Africa, and His Excellency Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Ghana will feature in the programme. Read more

    WTO council offers hope for TRIPS vaccine proposal

    Devex: It has been more than eight months since South Africa and India’s delegations to the World Trade Organization tabled a proposal to waive intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. Yesterday, delegates to the global body’s Council for Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights, or TRIPS, finally agreed to move to the next stage of text-based negotiations amid growing international support for some version of the waiver. Read more

    Argentina still resists drive to make Mercosur more flexible

    Mercopress: A top official from the Argentine Government spoke yet again against a bid from Brazil and Uruguay to make Mercosur more flexible and allow members to broker one-on-one deals with other countries or blocs. Read more

    Push to change Mercosur rules opens rift among members

    BNAmericas: The Mercosur trade bloc is confronting a rift among key members Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay over a potential rule change. Read more

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  • Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – May 30 – June 5

    Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest – May 30 – June 5

    Welcome to the Caribbean Trade and Development News Digest for the week of May 30-June 5, 2021! We are pleased to bring you the major trade and development news headlines and analysis from across the Caribbean Region and the world from the past week.

    THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

    The biggest news from the G7 meetings held this week is that the grouping of some of the world’s richest nations has committed to a 15% global minimum corporate income tax rate. This development will have implications for international financial centres (IFCs), including those in the Caribbean and others around the world like the Republic of Ireland which has resisted the EU’s attempt at a minimum corporate income tax rate for that bloc.

    The UK has reached a trade deal with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Read more here. The countries of the  Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) have agreed to hold accession talks with the UK, placing that country one step closer in its bid to join the trading bloc.

    This week the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) held its 52nd annual meeting on June 1-2. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala addressed the grouping.

    CARICOM is among the priority regions to which the Biden Administration will provide vaccines through the COVAX Facility. Read the announcement from the White House here.

    Contrary to the Obama/Biden administration, the Biden/Harris Administration has shown no sign of loosening the US’ illegal trade, financial and economic embargo on Cuba or of reversing the retightening of policies under the Trump administration. Read more here.

    REGIONAL NEWS

    Caricom-Mercosur Chamber to attend WHO forum on post covid-19 trade

    Mercopress: The World Trade Organization (WTO) has invited the Inter-Regional CARICOM–MERCOSUR Trade Council (CCICaMe) to take part in the 2021 Public Forum “Trade after covid-19: Building Resilience,” to be held at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, it was announced. Read more

    New Chamber seeking to boost Africa – Guyana trade, start direct flights

    News Guyana: Guyana and other countries across the Caribbean region are being presented with a new opportunity to access Africa directly and improve trade with the world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent. A newly operational African Caribbean Chambers of Trade, Commerce and Industry, has moved in the direction of CARICOM and has opened its head office along Lamaha Street, Georgetown. Read more

    CARICOM SG calls for fairness in international financing for SIDS

    CARICOM: CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has made a call for fairness in international financing for Small Island Developing States (SIDs), noting that they have been experiencing a battering from climate impacts, not of their own making. Read more

    Persaud highlights recommendations of CARICOM Commission on the Economy Report

    Barbados Advocate: During a recent web forum, Professor Avinash Persaud, Chairman of the CARICOM Commission on the Economy, highlighted that he believes CARICOM and the region’s economy could benefit greatly from enhanced co-operation and subsidiarity. Read more

    Caribbean Export, Caribbean Development Bank Join Forces to Provide Grants to MSMEs

    Caribank: The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with the European Union, have entered a partnership to support regional MSMEs with financial assistance to help businesses retool and preserve jobs. Read more

    With CARICOM economies in double-digit decline, PM prescribes a remedy

    Barbados Today: With ominous signs of emerging debt and other financial crises looming for Caribbean economies pummeled by the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has told regional counterparts that increasing cooperation and deepening regional integration are the best options to kickstart the recovery. Read more

    Barbados Minister Discusses Areas Of Cooperation With EU

    BGIS: New models for climate financing, the setting up of a specialist centre in health care, and nutrition security were among the areas discussed, during a courtesy call with Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment, Marsha Caddle, and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska. Read more

    A pre-taste of UNCTAD15 with flavours from Barbados

    UNCTAD: With the 15th UNCTAD ministerial conference approaching, it’s time to give you a taste of what we are cooking for you. As the conference will be held online, we invite you to embark for virtual Barbados from 3 to 7 October 2021. Read more

    Regulations For Cannabis Import/Export In Final Stages

    JIS: Chairman of the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), LeVaughn Flynn, says the Dangerous Drugs (Cannabis Import and Export Licensing) Regulations 2020 is now in the final stages before promulgation. Read more

    New loan window for SME exporters

    Jamaica Gleaner: JMMB Bank has partnered with EXIM Bank on a $150-million loan window for small to medium-sized businesses, or SMEs, involved in exports. Read more

    China woos Jamaican seafood exporters

    Jamaica Gleaner: Chinese Ambassador Tian Qi has agreed to facilitate further exploration of the economic ties between China and Jamaica to increase exports of deep-sea foods to his country. Read more

    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    UK strikes trade deal with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein

    The Guardian: Digital documents to be used to cut post-Brexit paperwork under agreement hailed by Liz Truss as ‘massive boost’. Read more

    UK begins process to join Asia-Pacific bloc

    BBC: The 11-member Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc has agreed to open accession talks with the UK. The British government, which asked to join the TPP in February, said membership was a huge opportunity in a post-Brexit world. Read more

    UK and Australia bid to strike trade deal by mid-June

    Reuters: Britain and Australia are seeking to strike a trade agreement by mid-June, the British envoy said on Thursday, following another round of bilateral talks. Read more

    EU reaches deal on tax transparency for multinational firms

    Euractiv: European Union government and parliament negotiators reached a deal on Tuesday (1 June) on rules that will force large multinational companies to disclose how much revenue and tax they pay in the 27-nation bloc and how much in countries considered tax havens by the EU. Read more

    EU counters Biden’s vaccine patent-waiver with WTO plan

    EUObserver: The EU has submitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO) a plan aimed at expanding the production of Covid-19 vaccines – which Brussels sees as a quicker and more-targeted solution to unequal global distribution of vaccines than the intellectual property right-waiver proposal backed by the US. Read more

    EU’s Borrell: Palm oil issue shouldn’t hamper trade talks with Indonesia

    Reuters: Ongoing negotiations between the European Union and Indonesia on a trade and investment deal should not be hampered by differences over palm oil, the EU’s top diplomat said, even as the bloc aims to phase out use of palm oil in fuel. Read more

    Hungary to block EU’s Africa-Pacific trade and development deal

    Reuters: Hungary cannot approve a new European Union trade and development accord with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries because it would bring more migrants into the bloc, the country’s foreign minister said on Thursday. Read more

    Suez Canal disruption hits North African ports

    GTR: The Suez Canal – a vital artery for global trade – was brought to a sudden standstill in March, when giant container ship Ever Given became wedged sideways across it. Read more

    Uruguayan ministers travel to Paraguay to discuss flexibilization of Mercosur

    Mercopress: Uruguay’s Economy Minister Azucena Arbeleche and Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo travelled to Paraguay Friday to discuss with the local administration of President Mario Abdo Benítez new steps towards flexibilities Mercosur’s rules. Read more

    Minister Guedes says Brazil favors the modernizing of Mercosur

    Mercopress: “We are liberal but not stupid,” said Brazil’s Economy Minister Paulo Guedes Thursday during a virtual event where he explained that his country has no intention of leaving Mercosur, but it does want to modernize it. Read more

    S. Korea, Mercosur bloc hold 6th round of FTA talks

    Yonhap News Agency: South Korea on Tuesday held the sixth round of free trade talks with a group of South American countries, after around a year of hiatus amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

    India to start FTA talks with UK, EU by year-end

    Livemint: India may begin formal negotiations for free trade agreements (FTAs) with the United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) by end of 2021 after completing ongoing preparatory work, commerce secretary Anup Wadhawan said. Read more

    APEC agree with WTO call for agreement on harmful fisheries by July 31- statement

    Reuters: Ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade group said on Saturday that they supported the head of the World Trade Organization’s call to reach a “comprehensive and meaningful agreement” on harmful fisheries subsidies by July 31. Read more

    U.S. seeks trade-pact dispute panel to probe Canada dairy quotas

    BNN Bloomberg: The U.S. moved to set up a dispute-settlement panel to review Canada’s dairy quotas, which Washington alleges undermine the ability of American dairy exporters to sell a wide range of products to Canadian consumers. Read more

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  • Deadline Extended (June 4) – Call for Blogs – Afronomicslaw Symposium: Prospects for Deepening Africa-Caribbean Economic Relations

    Deadline Extended (June 4) – Call for Blogs – Afronomicslaw Symposium: Prospects for Deepening Africa-Caribbean Economic Relations

    Total trade volumes between African and Caribbean countries remain small, but the potential and opportunities for enhancing trade, investment and economic cooperation between these two regions are encouraging based on shared historical and cultural ties. To this end, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has announced steps to formalize relations with the African Union (AU).Several CARICOM countries have also sought to deepen bilateral ties with individual African countries. Africa-Caribbean Economic Relations and cooperation are even more critical now as countries on both sides of the Atlantic aim to kickstart economic recovery following the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 shock. Indeed, vaccine cooperation became another form of Africa-Caribbean cooperation when the AU offered CARICOM access to some of the approved vaccines from a shipment it was receiving.

    Given the limited but promising trade and investment relationship between both regions, there is a dearth of scholarly analysis on the Africa-Caribbean economic relationship. This Symposium aims to address this gap in international economic relations scholarship through considered analytical pieces exploring aspects of this understudied relationship.

    We invite authors to submit contributions which critically analyze and examine this relationship from a variety of perspectives, including but not limited to:

    • Geo-political and economic ties (both historical and present) between these two regions; 
    • The future of trade and investment relations between both regions in light of WTO-plus mega-regional trade agreements popping up;
    • EU-ACP relations e.g. EU-EPAs and issues relating to fragmentation and dilution of negotiating positions by African and Caribbean countries;
    • The impact of COVID-19 on the vulnerability of trade and investment regimes in both regions;
    • Comparative perspectives from both regions on the role of education in the advancement of critical thought in international economic relations scholarship;
    • Comparative perspectives from both regions on the regulation of digital trade/e-commerce;
    • Africa-Caribbean collaboration in multilateral fora, e.g., WTO, ACP, Commonwealth, UNCTAD; •
    • Comparative perspectives from both regions on approaches to cooperation and regional integration; 
    • Comparative perspectives from both regions on Sustainable Development, e.g., approaches to mainstreaming regulation of renewable energy, the green and blue economy into trade and investment regimes;
    • Air Connectivity/Tourism/Travel Trade, e.g., prospects for promoting leisure and business travel between CARICOM and African countries;
    • Cultural Industries collaboration;
    • Role of the private sector in shaping future Africa-Caribbean trade and investment relations;
    • Investment relations, e.g., opportunities for Africa-Caribbean FDI, cooperation on investment rule-making reform.

    Submission Guidelines:

    Essays that are submitted as part of this symposium must be analytical and original. Authors must comply with the Afronomicslaw.org blog submission guidelines accessible here. Blogs are to be submitted to afronomicslaw@gmail.com with the title ‘African-Caribbean Relations Blog Submission’.

    Deadline for Submission of Essays:

    May 14, 2021.

    Inquiries or clarifications relating to this call should be directed to Ohio Omiunu (ohio.omiunu@dmu.ac.uk) and Alicia Nicholls (alicia.nicholls@cavehill.uwi.edu)

  • What lies ahead for the incoming CARICOM Secretary-General?

    What lies ahead for the incoming CARICOM Secretary-General?

    Photo credit: CARICOM (Photo of incoming CARICOM SG, Dr. Carla Barnett)

    Alicia Nicholls

    On August 15, 2021, Dr. Carla Barnett will formally assume office as the eighth Secretary-General (SG) of the forty-eight year old Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Although Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite briefly acted as SG during the period January-August 2011, Dr. Barnett will be the first female and Belizean to be appointed to this position. She was selected unanimously by the Conference of Heads of Government at a virtual special meeting held on May 11, and succeeds regional stalwart Ambassador Irwin Larocque of Dominica whose second term is coming to an end.

    Dr. Barnett joins a growing pantheon of distinguished women to lead international trade organisations and groupings at a time of mounting global uncertainty. A well-respected economist, she will be at the helm of the Caribbean’s foremost regional bloc which is fighting a number of proverbial fires of both endogenous and exogenous origin. This article discusses what lies ahead for the incoming CARICOM SG and some ways in which she might be able to make a difference within the confines of her position.

    The role of the SG

    The CARICOM SG heads the CARICOM Secretariat based in Georgetown, Guyana as outlined in Article 23 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC). Article 24(2) of the RTC provides, inter alia, that the SG is the Chief Executive Officer of the Community. He or she is not an all-powerful figure, however. The SG’s role is primarily administrative as it is the Conference of the Heads of Government that is not just the supreme organ of the Community but determines and provides policy direction to the Community as per Article 12 (1) &(2) of the RTC.

    Among the tasks assigned to the SG under Article 23 is to make an annual report to the Conference on the work of the Community. The tasks outlined in Article 24(2) of the RTC include, for instance, that the SG represents the Community. It also assigns to the SG various other functions broadly associated with implementing Community decisions and achieving Community objectives. His or her functions throughout the RTC are often exercised in conjunction with, or on the direction of the competent organs or the Conference.

    The SG is supposed to be independent in the exercise of his or her functions. That is, Article 23(4) forbides the SG and staff from seeking or receiving instructions from any Government of the Member States or from any other authority external to the Community in the performance of their duties.

    There is also the ‘soft power’ that the SG holds. For instance, the SG is tasked under Article 26 with assisting the Community Council in collaboration with competent authorities of the Member States to establish and maintain an efficient system of consultations at the national and regional levels in order to enhance the decision-making process in the Community. Under Article 191, disputant Member States can also use the good offices of a third party, including the SG, to settle their dispute, for example.

    The road ahead

    Dr. Barnett will be assuming office at a time of unprecedented social and economic challenges for the Community – some endogenous and others exogenous in origin, some longstanding and others of newer vintage. She will be heading an intergovernmental organization whose Member States are all classified as Small Island Developing States and whose pre-COVID-19 realities included generally low growth rates, limited export diversification, a rising incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and high vulnerabilities to macroeconomic and weather-related shocks. Member States continue to battle the climate crisis, arbitrary blacklisting from metropolitan countries in the areas of tax and anti-money laundering/terrorist financing (AML/CFT) matters, border disputes, and the list goes on.

    These longstanding issues are further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which brings with it the attendant issue of access inequalities caused by richer nations’ hoarding of COVID-19 vaccines and placing export restrictions on needed medical supplies. While it is hoped that the worst of the health crisis provoked by the COVID-19 pandemic will be over by August, it is evident that the economic and social effects will be with us for some time. All independent CARICOM Member States, with the exception of newly oil-rich Guyana, saw economic contractions in 2020. Unemployment and under-employment, especially among the youth, remains a chronic problem, while crime remains a concern. COVID-19 has given greater urgency to regional calls for debt forgiveness and expanded criteria for access to concessional financing.

    CARICOM as an organisation itself confronts enduring issues which have been well-documented in a lengthy list of reports and studies, including the 1992 ‘Time for Action’ Report of the Ramphal Commission, the Golding Report commissioned by the Government of Jamaica and the recently released draft report of the CARICOM Commission on the Economy.  There are persistent concerns over CARICOM’s implementation deficit, the suitability of its current governance model and its ‘top down’ approach, the need for greater transparency of CARICOM’s work, enhanced and meaningful engagement of ordinary citizens and civil society, and even questions over CARICOM’s continued relevance. While the sentiment is a bit unfair, the average man or woman on the street is generally of the opinion that CARICOM either does ‘nothing’ or decisions made do not meaningfully impact livelihoods

    How can the SG make a difference?

    The power to make the bold and transformative change that CARICOM needs does not rest with the SG, but with the Member States themselves. However, an SG with a strong vision and the necessary technical and soft skills can parlay these into helping to effect the change so greatly needed.  Dr. Barnett brings to the post an impressive resume  of qualifications, expertise and experience which make her well-suited and equipped for tackling the enormity of the tasks ahead. She is a well-respected economist who has held several key ministerial positions in the Belizean government and in financial institutions in that country, including former deputy governor of the Belize Central Bank. She was also a former Deputy Secretary-General of CARICOM.

    It is timely that Dr. Barnett will be taking office when the draft report of the CARICOM Commission on the Economy has been published. The report outlines the findings of an eminent group comprised of both regional and extra-regional luminaries and headed by noted economist and finance expert Prof. Avinash Persaud. The Commissioners propose a 12-point plan.

    Unlike the process with the selection of the World Trade Organization (WTO)’s Director-General where we had the benefit of successive statements and videos in which the candidates outlined their visions for the WTO and answered questions publicly on their plans and positions, there is regrettably no similar publicly accessible exercise for the CARICOM SG.

    However, in scouring the internet, I was able to come across a few articles which give some insight into Dr. Barnett’s vision. In the press release announcing Belize’s nomination of Barnett, she is quoted as stating her vision for CARICOM as follows:

    “a Caricom that the ordinary woman and man will defend because they feel the impact in their daily lives through economic and social advancement that comes from community action”.

    Based on this statement, it is clear that Dr. Barnett supports greater citizen involvement and engagement in the regional process and the need for enhanced community action for economic and social impact that permeates down to the man or woman on the street.

    There are some ways in which the new SG can make a difference, such as to the extent possible, promoting greater transparency of the Secretariat’s operations, the status of Member States’ implementation of decisions and the availability of up-to-date disaggregated statistics. For instance, what is the status of each Member States’ implementation of decisions made? This information should be in reports easily accessible by the public.

    The new SG can find ways to improve engagement, awareness and interest by the ordinary CARICOM citizen in the work of CARICOM and the opportunities the regional integration process present. With few exceptions, such as the CSME Townhalls or by following CARICOM’s website or social media, there are limited  opportunities for the average CARICOM citizen to learn what is happening in regional bodies or have their voices heard in regional decision-making. Even so, improvements can be made in what and how the information is disseminated and the channels through which it is done.

    As I conclude, I wish to applaud the excellent work being done by the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors. I particularly want to highlight the two Barbadian ambassadors Java Sealy and Meagan Theobalds, who have hit the ground running in continuing the work of their successors to raise the profile of CARICOM among the youth who are the inheritors of this region. The unquenchable enthusiasm and passion of young persons like these two is needed for any organization or regional movement to thrive and advance. As such, the establishment of a CARICOM Young Professionals Programme, similar to those offered by other organisations around the world, would be a value-added to CARICOM and perhaps something the incoming SG could champion.  

    Alicia Nicholls, B.Sc., M.Sc., LL.B. is a trade and development consultant with a keen interest in sustainable development, international law and trade. All views herein expressed are her personal views and should not be attributed to any institution with which she may from time to time be affiliated. You can read more of her commentaries and follow her on Twitter @LicyLaw.