Opinion
- Editorial- Commentary
Rickey
Singh:
Worrying
signals in Caricom
OFFICIALLY Caricom remains committed to completing
by the end of 2008 the framework agreement for
the phased inauguration of a Single Market and
Economy (CSME) in 2015. That's the good news.
At the same time, there are troubling signs of
a diminishing of commitment on foreign policy co-ordination
that's crucial for external economic relations
and the general unity profile of Caricom. This
is bad news.
Fragmentation in foreign policy initiatives that
run counter to clearly defined policy objectives
of Caricom would inevitably impact negatively on
arrangements for the realisation of the goal of
a seamless regional economy via the CSME.
Two significant developments that fuel concerns
about cracks in the coordination of Caricom's foreign
policy relate to external economic relations and
new associations being developed by some regional
partners with hemispheric groupings without any
known prior notification of each other.
First came the conclusion of negotiations last
December 16 for an Economic Partnership Agreement
(EPA) with the European Union. That is now causing
some controversy among member governments about
its implications for maintaining the authority
of the Heads of Government Conference as Caricom's
lead organ.
The concerns were sharply expressed at last week's
meeting of the Community's Council for Trade and
Economic Development in Georgetown, with the current
chairman, Jamaica's Minister of Industry and Commerce,
Karl Samuda, questioning the absence of any formal
report on the outcome of the EPA negotiations that
were completed in Barbados last month, and which
the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM)
played the lead role.
While
the CRNM itself maintains that CARIFORUM governments
have been kept fully abreast on the
negotiating processes, hard questions and criticisms
have now led to a decision being taken for a full-scale
independent review of the EPA by a "Reflections
Group", possibly over two days starting on
February 28 in Georgetown.
Part of the problems arising from apparent discontent
over both the negotiating process and accountability
on the final outcome apparently relate to how the
CRNM currently functions in isolation from the
Community Secretariat and, consequently, what falls
through the cracks in communication between the
Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on External Negotiations
and the Heads of Government.
In the thinking of some regional technocrats and
academics, the problem could be aggravated by
the fact that, in contrast to prevailing modes
of communication and decision-making, there will
now be in place a CARIFORUM-EU Council to deal
with functioning of the EPA. This, it is felt,
could eventually weaken the authority of the
Heads of Government, to the advantage of the
27 European Union countries.
Then, amid continuing fragmented approaches in
Caricom's involvement with Petrocaribe Agreement
of June 2005 has come the surprising announcement
from Dominica that it has signed on to access membership
of ALBA.
ALBA, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's 2004
Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, currently
includes Bolivia, Nicaragua and Cuba.
St Vincent and the Grenadines and Antigua and Barbuda
have committed themselves to the general principles
of ALBA but have withheld seeking access to its
trade provisions out of precaution against any
conflict with the revised Caricom Treaty governing
intra-regional trade and, specifically, any member
state granting concessions that are inimical
to other partners within the framework of the
Community's Common External Tariff (CET).
Dominica's Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit,
appears to have thrown better judgement to the
wind in his anxiety to secure funding from ALBA
which has been established with an initial capital
of US$1 billion, and now stands exposed to a legal
challenge under the CET.
Dominica, like St.Vincent and the Grenadines,
is also negotiating for an oil refinery built by
Venezuela and a new airport with funding from both
Venezuela and Cuba.
It is understandable that Dominica would seek
assistance for economic development wherever possible.
However, unless Caricom allows a waiver under the
CET for imports from any of the existing ALBA states,
Dominica has a problem.
As sovereign states of Caricom members have the
right to join other groupings, access markets and
economic development funding. This, however, should
be done with recognition of their obligations to
Caricom and in the context of coordination of foreign
policy. Dominica most certainly has an obligation
now to explain to Caricom its status in relation
to ALBA.
Rickey
Singh is
a columnist of the Trinidad Express.
Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these
views.
This
commentary was originally published by Trinidad Express,
on Wednesday,
January 30th 2008.
Petroleumworld reprint this article in the interest
of our readers. Petroleumworld
does
not necessarily share these views.
All
comments posted and published on Petroleumworld,
do not reflect either for or against the opinion
expressed in the comment as an endorsement of Petroleumworld.
All comments expressed are private comments and do
not necessary reflect the view of this website. All
comments are posted and published without liability
to Petroleumworld.
Fair
use Notice: This site contains copyrighted material
the use of which has not always been specifically
authorized by the copyright owner. We are making
such material available in our efforts to advance
understanding of issues of environmental and humanitarian
significance. We believe this constitutes a 'fair
use' of any such copyrighted material as provided
for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance
with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107. For more information
go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
All
works published by Petroleumworld are in accordance
with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed
a prior interest in receiving the included information
for research and educational purposes. Petroleumworld
has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator
of this article nor is Petroleumworld endorsed or
sponsored by the originator.
Petroleumworld
encourages persons to reproduce, reprint, or broadcast
Petroleumworld articles provided that any such reproduction
identify the original source, http://www.petroleumworld.com
or else and it is done within the fair use as provided
for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you
wish to use copyrighted material from this site for
purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you
must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Internet
web links to http://www.petroleumworld.com are appreciated
Petroleumworld
welcomes your feedback and comments: editor@petroleumworld.com.
By using this link, you agree to allow E&P to
publish your comments on our letters page.
Petroleumworld
News 02/03/08
Copyright© 2008
Rickey
Singh. All rights reserved.
