Prime Minister Gaston Browne remains optimistic that CARICOM can achieve
deeper integration and eventually a political union.
Prime Minister Browne was speaking on the margins of the 45 th Regular Meeting
of the Conference of the Heads of Government of CARICOM being held in
Trinidad and Tobago.
“CARICOM has reached a level of maturity and I am hopeful that we will end up
with a political union. I believe there will be a swell from the ground upward
calling for deeper integration. The reality is that our islands are too small to be
viable on our own, especially the micro-states in the OECS sub-region. For us to
achieve the type of sustainability and develop the type of resilience in light of all
our challenges and the vulnerabilities of these small states within CARICOM, I
think that it is quintessential that we integrate and move toward the establishment
of the single economy and even more so pursue that ambition of having a political
union,” said Prime Minister Browne.
The country’s leader, who noted that the CARICOM Heads meeting will address a
wide range of issues, said that integration is necessary if we are to lift the
Caribbean people out of poverty and provide them with the best living standards.
“On the basis that we are able to further integrate and move towards a political
union, means that we will have a more viable entity that will compete with large
trading blocs across the world,” he said.
Prime Minister Browne said that Heads will look at a proposal towards advancing
the Free Movement Regime under the CSME to include, amending the
qualification criteria for certain skilled categories. This would also include
attestations from previous employers for artisans and automate the processing of
certification of skilled nationals.
In addition, Heads will address the issue of regional food security, regional
coordination on Climate Change, deep-sea mining, and security.
Prime Minister Browne will make a presentation to the Heads of Government on
Antigua and Barbuda’s hosting of the Fourth United Nations International
Conference on Small Island Developing States. As host of the 4th SIDS
Conference, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda aims to ensure an outcome
that includes a set of sound packages to enable all SIDS to build resilience in the
face of global challenges and shocks, while addressing the need for sustained
development.
The situation in Haiti, the Caribbean Maritime Security Strategy, Crime as a Public
Health Issue, and border issues will also form part of the agenda items for the
three-day CARICOM Heads meeting which concludes on July 5.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s contingent to the CARICOM meeting includes
Ambassador Dr. Clarence Henry and Foreign Service Officer Kurt Williams.
Sir Molwyn Joseph is the Acting Prime Minister, while Prime Minister Bowne is
out of state.
