Barbados knocks region on CSME

Published: Tuesday October 21, 2008

Barbadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chris Sinckler has expressed frustration that many Caricom leaders were still dragging their feet on the full implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Addressing a meeting of regional and international policy makers in Bridgetown on Sunday, he said that there had been “too much hesitance” and second guessing when it came to the regional integration movement. He warned that “time is running out on the Caribbean.

“If we do not act now to claim our stake in this global economy, we may never get the opportunity again,” Sinckler said.

He said the CSME presented the opportunity for small states in Caricom to overcome obstacles presented by globalisation.

“What empirical data and analysis shows us will be the benefits of economic integration and definitely too little aggressiveness by our business people and indeed, our policy makers, in taking advantage of the opportunities,” he said.

Last month, Barbados’ Prime Minister David Thompson – who has lead responsibility for the CSME in the Caricom quasi-Cabinet – said leaders would meet later this year to discuss the state of the initiative, especially the thorny issue of the free movement of skills and labour across the region.


Source: Trinidad Guardian Newspapers
http://www.guardian.co.tt/business2.html