At the just-ended half yearly conference.
ce in Grenada it was agreed that the regional integration effort was lagging.There has been increasing concern that the process has stalled.
The official statement issued at the end of the leader’s half-yearly meeting confirms that there appeared to be a loss in the momentum.
It admitted that there was a need to reassess approaches with a view to determining the most effective way forward.
Skepticism
Current Caricom chairman, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas of Grenada, spoke about the “skepticism” of the Community’s populace, and the significant economic challenges that member states were currently facing.
 |
 |
| Thomas: a fundamental reappraisal of our approach |
He said: "I am of the view that this scenario begs for a fundamental reappraisal of our approach, our management and our commitment toward the integration process.
I submit that failure to engage in such an exercise will be detrimental and unresponsive to our people’s wishes and the gravity of the current environmental dictates," Prime Minister Thomas added.
Implementation impotence
He spoke of the region’s people being "restless and concerned" with many holding the view that Caricom appeared to be languishing in a state of “implementation impotence in our slow march towards the CSME.”
“Others suggest that our preoccupation with survival issues has led to a neglect of integration matters. Yet, some are also of the view that our actions sometimes contradict our public rhetoric.”
“This imagery”, Mr Thomas noted, “is quite vivid when one measures our unacceptable progress against the agreed work programme for the advancement of the integration process…”
|
 Some are also of the view that our actions sometimes contradict our public rhetoric |
Mr Thomas told the meeting that the fact that the region is grappling with crises it did not create - including rising food prices - is no excuse for the concept of regional integration to be placed on the back burner.
Other leaders said that the region should not allow itself to be discouraged by the often expressed views that Caricom was in crisis.
They urged instead, that the region be viewed as being at the crossroads of opportunity.
A leaders retreat to discuss the way forward for Caricom, proposed by the Guyanese president Bharrat Jagdeo, will be held in St Kitts in July.
Ahead of the talks the Guyanese leader Bharrat Jagdeo said the regional enterprise is now in the doldrums, even as the Barbadian Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart said he believes there is still a level of commitment.
Benefit deficit
|
 |
| Golding: people concerned that Caricom isn't working |
In rather straightforward and unequivocal language, the Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding warned that the time had come for leaders to address the concerns of the people of the region that Caricom was not working.
Recalling one report which referred to an "implementation deficit" by Caricom , Mr Golding said "the people of the Caribbean, they feel a sense of benefit deficit."
Prime Minister Golding warned his colleague leaders "that is a concern that will not be dispelled by sentimental pleading and history-based rationalisation."
