Guyana celebrates CARICOM's 30th Retain
- Integration is the key Georgetown, GINA, July 24, 2003
Guyana joined other members of CARICOM they celebrate
the 30th Anniversary of the Community, which was established on
July 04, 1973 after the Treaty of Chaguaramas was signed by Guyana,
Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago.
A reception hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat was held last night
at Le Meridien Pegasus to mark the anniversary in Guyana. The 30th
anniversary is celebrated under the theme “Integration –
our key to prosperity.”
Secretary General of CARICOM, Dr. Edwin Carrington said CARICOM
can now claim to be the longest surviving integrated group in the
world because other groups started, but some collapsed while some
were modified. He noted that CARICOM has avoided that faith.
“The Community publicly pays tribute to the Guyanese people
who have never faltered in welcoming and hosting the Headquarters
of CARICOM throughout its 30 years of existence,” said Dr.
Carrington
President Bharrat Jagdeo said the theme chosen for the 30th anniversary
celebration is very apt. He explained, “We can now reflect
with tremendous satisfaction on the impressive strides made by our
membership to expand cooperation and to forge a common identity.
Admittedly, there have been many obstacles that have hindered, and
indeed continue to hinder, the integration process. Nonetheless,
we are compelled not only by economic necessity but also by our
common history and heritage to preserve our search for Regional
unity.”
The Head of State said small economies should come together to optimize
their prospects for development. He explained that pooling their
financial and human resources will maximize CARICOM’s effectiveness
and in the process it will benefit the peoples.
President Jagdeo said Guyana is fully committed to Community building.
“We are persuaded of the benefits of working together with
other sister States of CARICOM to promote economic and social progress
of our peoples,” said the Head of State.
He said, “There are many tasks before us within the Region,
the finalisation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME)
and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and in the wider arena,
our involvement in the negotiating theatres of the Free Trade Areas
of the Americas (FTAA) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and
the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) - Cotonou Agreement.”
The President emphasized that the immediate priority remains the
creation of the Single Market and Economy. He explained that with
the establishment of the CCJ, the CSME would be able to function
on a solid legal basis. He noted that a number of other institutions
and instruments will have to be fashioned, in order to facilitate
both inter and intra-regional trade.
“Very importantly, Member States will have to harmonise their
legislation to allow for the smooth performance of the Regional
economy. Time is not on our side and all of this must be done before
much too long if the CSME is to get off the ground,” said
the Head of State.
He added, “We must endeavour to ensure that the administrative
arms of Government adapt their functions to effectively implement
regional decisions. We can no longer talk of hassle-free travel
and at the same time discriminate against the nationals of CARICOM
states.
The President said immigration officials must learn to treat the
traveling public with courtesy and respect. He pointed out that
the CSME cannot succeed without the full involvement of the peoples,
of the Region.
The Head of State explained that the concept of the CSME and the
vision of the regional unity is yet to fully permeate the consciousness
of the Caribbean people. He said, “For many, integration is
still a vague and illusive goal since they cannot see or appreciate
how it touches their lives.”
He pointed out that there should be greater communication with people,
so that they can understand what the Community is all about. He
said that without the blessing and support of the peoples very little
will be achieved. He urged that people should be fully sensitized
about the importance of our endeavour and thus become fully involved
as stakeholders in the process.
“Our young people have a crucial role to play – they
must be involved in the decision-making process and in the crystallization
of the Community’s goals and objectives,” said the President.
President Jagdeo who has responsibility for Agriculture in the Region
said, “I feel that the time is right for the Community to
advance its work towards the formulation of a common agricultural
policy.”
He explained that through greater productivity, the Region would
be able to achieve greater food security and increase exports to
world markets. “I welcome the support which we continue to
receive from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in advancing
this objective particularly in relation to the coordination by Member
States of their national policies with regard to agricultural production,”
said President Jagdeo.
The President said, “As we are painfully aware, our efforts
at economic integration and development have been seriously threatened
by increasing crime and insecurity in most of our countries. Arms,
drug trafficking and organized crime are now wreaking havoc on our
economies and our societies.”
He stressed that those deleterious forces should not be allowed
to undermine the Community. He said as stated in the Rose Hall Declaration,
the decisions of the Regional Task Force on crime and security should
be implemented quickly. He added that collective systems should
be put in place to provide greater safety for member countries and
to restore the international image of the Caribbean as a haven of
peace and tranquility.
The President said there are other impediments, such as, HIV/AIDS
which threaten the development process in the Caribbean. He added
that the assistance that friendly Governments have extended in particular,
the United States Administration, to support the Community’s
efforts in combating this threat, is appreciated.
Among those present at the celebration were Prime Minister Samuel
Hinds, Ministers of Government, Members of the Diplomatic Corps
and Leader of the main Opposition Mr. Robert Corbin. The gathering
was entertained by cultural presentations by the National Dance
Company, drummers from the two main ethnic groups and the Caribbean’s
famous comedian, Mr. Paul Keens-Douglas.
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