| President Ramotar commits to working towards a more integrated CARICOM |  |  |  |
| Monday, 01 July 2013 21:31 |
In his CARICOM Day message on the 40th anniversary of the birth of the community, President Donald Ramotar has pledged Guyana’s support of continued efforts to realising a more integrated Region, and to seek new ways in which its aspirations can be realised. message:  President Donald Ramotar THIS year, we commemorate 40 years since the birth of the Caribbean Community. It was indeed an ambitious but necessary undertaking by the four founding nations, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, when, on July 4th, 1973, they signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas which represented a tangible expression of their collective belief in the ideals of Regional integration. This juncture in the history of the CARICOM family is an occasion for celebration as well as for critical reflection. Regionalism is a tangible expression by states that greater benefits can be accrued from promoting our commonalities. Therefore, the Region has much to boast about its collaboration in the areas of foreign policy, advancement through joint partnership with third states and groupings such as the European Union, the joint promotion of our culture through events like CARIFESTA and sports. A united CARICOM is indeed a very powerful voting block in multilateral bodies and the Region’s commitment to democratic principles is recognised and applauded the world over. I am convinced that our individual countries can be more prosperous and indeed strengthened, if bold steps are taken to deepen our integration process. In this regard, the Revision of the Treaty of Chaguaramas paved the way for the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). While the economies of the Region remain vulnerable to external shocks, the CSME offers businesses the opportunity to expand their operations and be profitable by accessing the markets of the wider Region. Integration implies, however, that our peoples must be vested with the right to move and do business across the Region without imposed barriers. Heads of Government since the Conference of Heads in Grand Anse, Grenada, in 1989, have re-committed to hassle- free movement of people to promote a greater sense of community. Yet insularity continues to plague our union and poses a threat to what we envisage for our peoples. The Region has indeed survived many challenges, the most recent being the economic crisis which struck in 2008 and the many natural disasters as a result of climate change. Given our vulnerabilities as a Region, it is time we heighten our preparedness to such challenges, even as we remain engaged in the process of advocating for countries to reduce their emissions. Similar progress must be made in other areas in order for us to meet the demands of the international environment. Critical to this is the work of the CARICOM Secretariat in performing at its intended optimum. In this regard, Guyana welcomed the reform process currently taking place across the Region. This process will see the restructuring of the Secretariat, and other Regional Institutions to make these institutions more proactive to anticipate and respond to the current trends in a timely manner. While Guyana has had the distinction to serve as the Headquarters of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, many are unaware of the work being done on behalf of the wider Community. There is therefore the need for more sensitisation to the work of CARICOM, thereby allowing for a greater appreciation, not only by Guyanese citizens, but also nations across the Region. To this end, it is my hope that the reform process would also allow for a mechanism of regular engagement of the Secretariat with stakeholders of the Community. Forty years has brought many notable successes. I refer to institutions and Associate Institutions such as the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC); The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), of which a notable Guyanese national sits as a Judge; The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); among others. However, the Region is challenged to reorient if it is to remain effectively engaged globally. A strategically repositioned Caribbean Community can continue to make a significant impact at the global level through, among other things, forging new partnerships with Third States and further strengthening of its relations with other Regional Groupings such as the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) of which both Guyana and Suriname are members. I trust that, even as we celebrate such a momentous occasion, that we would pause to reflect on our journey thus far and seek new ways of ensuring that the strides we have made over the past 40 years are not lost to the insecurities that exist. Guyana’s commitment to Regional integration has been steadfast over the years and will continue in the future. I acknowledge the inputs made by Guyanese to the success of Regional integration and we will continue to seek new ways in which the aspirations of our Caribbean Community (CARICOM) can be realised. My Government’s full support to the continued efforts to deepening and widening of CARICOM is assured, as other Regional governments also work toward a more integrated Caribbean. Donald Ramotar President of Guyana |