Matalon urges customs duty reform at Caricom level

BY STEVEN JACKSON Business reporter jacksons@jamaicaobserver.com

Sunday, October 12, 2014    

DISHONEST importers continue to mis-classify a raft of items including “synthetic hair” in order to benefit from cheaper duty, stated Joseph M Matalon on Thursday night.

As such, he wants Government to review tariffs that hike duty on primary products but slash tax on finished goods made from the same material, arguing that they impact the country especially as it relates to Caribbean Community (Caricom) imports.

“Articles of synthetic hair attract duty of 20 per cent, but articles of human hair attract duty of 5.0 per cent,” he said. “…and I must tell you, vast amounts [of human hair] were imported into the island,” said Matalon, who heads the Private Sector Working Group on tax reform and is also chairman of ICD Group.

Matalon was addressing the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA) 46th Annual Awards Banquet at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.

Weave imports are set to hit $1 billion this year, based on growth over the last four years. The island imported US$7 million ($770 million) worth of the product in 2012, up from US$3.3 million in 2008, according to the International Trade Centre, an affiliate of the World Trade Organisation and United Nations.

“The complexity of our tariff structure and the number and wide disbursement of duty rates imposed, even within a single tariff, provide myriad opportunities for unscrupulous importers to mis-classify imports in an effort to evade legitimate customs charges,” explained Matalon, who gave another example of red kidney beans which attract duty of 40 per cent while red beans (processed) attract no import charge.

His reference was to trade mechanisms under the present tariff structure that, by and large, “impose protective tariffs on primary products” while allowing “low or zero tariff on finished goods of those same primary products”.

“In both cases I have cited, the rigidity of the current CET prevents us from undertaking reforms, from addressing these issues to the benefit of the economy and all its participants,” he said. “I have no doubt, if polled, that all the national customs departments in the region — with the possible exception of Trinidad [the largest Caricom trader] — would share this view.

“Surely, as the largest consumer market in Caricom, Jamaica can — and has a duty — and must demand that these issues be addressed through a reform process at the level of Caricom itself,” he said, eliciting applause from the roughly 500 guests.

Imports into Jamaica are greatest from the USA, followed by Venezuela and Trinidad & Tobago (T&T).

“In my own view, if we are to remain in the unit — not on the basis of sentimental historical inaction, but on the basis of true mutual benefit — then maintaining the status quo is not a serious option,” he concluded.

Last year, the JMA claimed that manufacturers from T&T were misrepresenting items as originating from within Caricom — which would entitle the goods to duty-free status. However, a rate of duty or common external tariff is applied on products originating from outside the grouping.

In fact, last year’s JMA guest speaker, former Industry Minister Claude Clarke, called for Government to suspend the CET for the duration of the Jamaica‘s International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

The Economic and Social Survey Jamaica 2012 indicates that Jamaica‘s annual trade deficit with Caricom narrowed to US$775.3 million relative to US$916.0 million in 2011. The improvement was attributed to a 22.4 per cent rise in exports to US$83.2 million and a 12.7 per cent reduction in imports to US$858.6 million.

On Thursday, Red Stripe was named Manufacturer of the Year to top off a night on which the brewery claimed five awards in total — more than any other company this year.

The other awards that went to Red Stripe included Champion Exporter in the category of large exporter, Digicel Business ICT, NCBJ Best Environmental Management, and Robert Lightbourne Skills & Productivity.

JMA President Brian Pengelley, in his address, said that local manufacturers were finding new markets, including Brazil, India, Africa and China and the Caribbean.

“There is a niche market for processed foods, beverages, indigenous high quality fashion. In South Africa there is demand for tea, coffee, beers and rice. In Cuba, our closest neighbour, there is demand for processed foods and beverages. Also opportunity is ripe for export to the French Caribbean including Guadeloupe,” Pengelley said.

Some of the larger awards included the Ray Hadeed Award for best small and medium enterprise, which went to Caribbean Flavours & Fragrances; the Eddie Hall Award for New Manufacturer of the Year went to Spring Vale Enterprise; the C Henderson Davis Award for Breakthrough Product of the Year went to Fersan Ltd. Champion Exporter medium size went to PA Benjamin, while Champion Exporter small size went to Honey Bun.

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Matalon urges customs duty reform at Caricom level

Jamaica boosts Caricom exports over 9%

Jamaica has been boosting exports to Caricom so far this year. Data released by the Statistical Institute of  Jamaica, Statin, show exports to the region are up 9.5% over last year.  Between January and July, exports were valued at US$39 million U.S.dollars. Imports from the region were higher as well, going up by US$5 million to US$ 426 million. Goods bought from Caricom account for 15% of  Jamaica’s imports while the region takes 5% of  Jamaica’s exports.   In the meantime, Statin has revised the performance of  the manufacturing sector saying it grew 4% compared to earlier estimates that it declined by a percentStatin says the performance was due to the sector benefiting from strong growth in sugar production and petroleum refining.  Sugar production in the second quarter was more than double its output last year while petroleum refining was up 26%.

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Jamaica boosts Caricom exports over 9%

Jamaica boosts Caricom exports over 9%

Jamaica has been boosting exports to Caricom so far this year. Data released by the Statistical Institute of  Jamaica, Statin, show exports to the region are up 9.5% over last year.  Between January and July, exports were valued at US$39 million U.S.dollars. Imports from the region were higher as well, going up by US$5 million to US$ 426 million. Goods bought from Caricom account for 15% of  Jamaica’s imports while the region takes 5% of  Jamaica’s exports.   In the meantime, Statin has revised the performance of  the manufacturing sector saying it grew 4% compared to earlier estimates that it declined by a percentStatin says the performance was due to the sector benefiting from strong growth in sugar production and petroleum refining.  Sugar production in the second quarter was more than double its output last year while petroleum refining was up 26%.

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Jamaica boosts Caricom exports over 9%

CARICOM formalising recommendations to deal with Ebola, Chikungunya

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Tuesday September 16, 2014, CMC – The Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) says it is formalising recommendations to deal with any possible incidence of the Ebola virus and is also improving efforts to respond to the Chikungunya epidemic.

A CARICOM statement said that chief medical officers and other technical health experts from CARICOM member states met via video conference to rationalise the region’s response to the two diseases.

The meeting was convened by the CARICOM Secretariat in collaboration with the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

“Among draft proposals that were fleshed out at the meeting was the achievement of the core competencies cited in WHO’s International Health Regulations. Discussions additionally focused on the need to urge a calm but prudent response when applying the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation with regards to the Ebola virus – no restrictions on travel and trade in areas where the Ebola transmission has occurred,” the statement said.

It said the meeting also discussed the “urgent need to put in place isolation facilities and resources to permit barrier management of suspected or affected cases of Ebola”.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr Carissa Etienne, who has ended a visit to Guyana, has assured that there was a very low death rate from Chikungunya, despite the significant illness and disability it causes.

Dr Etienne paid a courtesy call on CARICOM Secretary-General, Irwin LaRocque and met with officials of the Directorate of Human and Social Development to discuss the region’s response to the current disease alerts.

Dr Etienne said that Chikungunya has had a significant effect on productivity and the social and economic life of affected communities, and it was therefore critical to concentrate response efforts on vector reduction.

“It is a household mosquito (aedes. aegypti) and all householders must become active in reducing the breeding sites inside and outside of their homes … garbage disposal, drainage of water, emptying of containers.

“We also have to ask people to sleep under bed nets so that you don’t get bitten, particularly an infected person. The treatment is mini-supportive, we give Tylenol, Paracetamol, Acetaminophen, and ensure fluid intake,” Dr Etienne said.

She said multi-sectoral action was needed to ensure access to water, to avoid storage which encourages mosquito breeding. Adequate garbage disposal and activating communities to take better care of themselves at the Community and individual levels were other critical responses the PAHO Director proposed.

With regard to Ebola, Dr Etienne noted that PAHO has observed outbreaks in Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and three other African countries, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sengal, which have reported cases, but have contained the disease.

“At this stage, the current Ebola outbreak has been upgraded to a United Nations Humanitarian Crisis which activates all of the UN to react to the crisis. It is being viewed not only as a health problem; it is generating food security and human security issues,” Dr Etienne said.

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CARICOM formalising recommendations to deal with Ebola, Chikungunya

Japanese prime minister meets with CARICOM leaders today

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday July 28, 2014, CMC – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday began an official two-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago holding talks with Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar.

A statement issued afterwards said that the two leaders had discussed a wide range of issues including possible Japanese investment in the oil-rich twin island Republic and the possibility of Port-of-Spain opening an embassy in Tokyo.

Abe, whose first ever visit here forms part of his trip to Latin America and the Caribbean, will meet with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders on Monday for talks that the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said would include areas such as climate change, technical cooperation, trade and investment.

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The CARICOM Secretariat said that the half-day summit is also expected to provide an opportunity for discussions on the upcoming Third United Nations Conference on Small Island States to be held in Samoa in September.

“The summit provides a timely opportunity to advance CARICOM’s priorities in these areas and for fostering solidarity between CARICOM and Japan,” the statement said.

Abe, who was met on arrival by Foreign Minister Winston Dookeran, expressed his gratitude to the Trinidad and Tobago government for its decision to waive entry visa requirements for Japanese nationals coming here to conduct business for a maximum period of 90 days.

According to the statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister, the two government leaders discussed the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which establishes international standards for the movement of conventional arms and ammunition across borders. Both Japan and Trinidad and Tobago signed the treaty in 2013.

“In the meeting, Prime Minister Persad Bissessar sought the support of the Japanese Government to support Trinidad and Tobago’s bid to host the ATT Secretariat,” the statement said, adding that Port of Spain has also “recognised Japan’s and Trinidad and Tobago’s bid for non-permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.”

The statement noted that during the discussions, Prime Minister Abe raised the matter of deepening bilateral relations and requested that Trinidad and Tobago consider opening an embassy in Tokyo.

“The Prime Minister promised to immediately engage in discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs on this issue.

“Discussions between the two Prime Ministers also focused on Trinidad and Tobago as an attractive destination for trade and investment; in particular, the recent launch of the Tamana Intech Park, the first science and technology park in the Caribbean.”

Prime Minister Persad Bissessar is encouraging Japanese firms to take up residency, particularly firms involved in the areas of ICTs, Clean Technologies, and Agro-processing.

The statement said that the Minister of Trade, Industry, Investment and Communications, Vasant Bharath, would pursue discussions with relevant members of the delegation during their stay.

“The Japanese Prime Minister agreed to consider further areas of cooperation in such ventures,” the statement said, quoting Prime Minister Persad Bissessar as noting the “positive impact on the South-Western peninsula with regard to job creation by the introduction of the dimethyl ether (DME) Project, which has been established by the Massy Group, the Mitsubishi Corporation, and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical”.

The US$850 million project is situated at la Brea, south of here.

The statement said that Japan would also host the fourth Japan/CARICOM Foreign Ministers Forum. It gave no date.

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Japanese prime minister meets with CARICOM leaders today

Ronald Sanders: China will cast a huge shadow as Japan meets CARICOM

Sir Ronald Sanders

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday July 2014 - The word will not be spoken in any formal speeches and it won’t be mentioned in final statements and declarations, but it will be talked about in the corridors and it will be at the back of everyone’s mind as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits five Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations from July 25 to August 2. The word is “China”.

Animosity between China and Japan has been steadily increasing over the last few years and relations are now tense at best and hostile at worst. From the Chinese side, according to Professor Zhou Yong-Sheng at the China Foreign Affairs University, “Japan can develop as a military superpower and boss around the region again”. He adds “China is no longer the country it is was 120 years ago and, therefore, Japan should not commit the folly of starting a war with its western neighbour”. Those are fighting words and there have been skirmishes in both the sea and air over claims to sovereignty of five small islands known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China. This had led to a military build-up in Japan that has been criticised by China on almost a daily basis. The heat generated over this was fanned into a flame by the Prime Minister’s insistence on visiting the Yasukuni shrine that venerates Japan’s war dead who China regards as invaders and from the World War 11 occupation of Chinese territory.

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The Japanese leader is visiting the five LAC nations in the wake of a very successful visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping in which he signed agreements that exceed US$10 billion with Argentina, US$5 billion with Venezuela, and US$1.8 billion with Cuba. Additionally, Xi offered to extend a line of credit of up to US$10 billion to members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean states (CELAC) and to create a US$20 billion fund to finance infrastructure projects in LAC countries. China is also LAC’s second largest trading partner after the United States of America. In 2013, trade reached US$261 billion of which China enjoys a surplus. Nonetheless, Chinese investment, particularly in infrastructure, has helped to boost economies in LAC countries, including the 9 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries that have diplomatic relations with China.

The Japanese Prime Minister is very keen to boost trade with Latin America and the Caribbean which, while it nearly doubled over the past decade, still accounts for just 5% of Japan’s foreign trade. He will also want to expand Japan’s stock of foreign investment in LAC which is now lagging behind China at US$60 billion.

The name of the game is two-fold. The first is economic and includes access to LAC resources, such as oil, gas and minerals, as well as investment in large infrastructural projects that would give Japan a sizeable return. In this regard, Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Mexico are the main targets. The second part of the game is political influence particularly in Japan’s quest for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for which elections will be held in October 2016. In both cases, Japan comes up against China.

While China is one of the five permanent members of the UNSC, it has been openly campaigning against Japan’s candidacy for the single UNSC seat that will be available to Asia. Japan is contending with Bangladesh whose candidature China avidly promotes in order to block Japan.

It is because of the vote for the UNSC that Japan is particularly interested in meeting the 14 independent CARICOM nations in Trinidad and Tobago on July 28. If they all vote for Japan, Prime Minister Abe would be delighted.

And that is where the challenge and the opportunity arise for the 14 independent CARICOM states. For the five that do not have diplomatic relations with China (they are tied to Taiwan), supporting Japan poses no challenge at all, but the others do have to be mindful of the consequences of supporting Japan for the UNSC. Dealing with this issue will call for skilful diplomacy.

The opportunity for the 14 independent CARICOM nations is the face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Abe. It presents an opportunity to bargain in the region’s interest just as the Japanese leader will be seeking benefits for Japan.

On the economic front, like China, Japan has been pledging large regional aid and investment packages to Africa and Southeast Asia, the value of which are US$43 billion and US $20 billion, respectively. It is unlikely that transactions of such sizes will be extended to all of the LAC countries. The LAC nations are a low priority for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which provided only US$450 million to the entire region in 2012. This means that the CARICOM countries got only a fraction of that total.

It would be worth drawing that reality to Prime Minister Abe’s attention even as CARICOM leaders describe the plight of their economies and the restricted space in which they operate because of rules made by institutions in which Japan has a powerful voice. The face-to-face meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister offers a golden opportunity to remind him that his country has enjoyed a sizeable trade surplus with CARICOM countries for many years – a trade surplus that is greater than the amount of official development assistance Japan provides.

The value of the trade surplus may not be huge in Japanese terms, but it is large for CARICOM states.

Additionally, the meeting with Mr Abe also provides a chance to lever support from Japan in critical areas such as: providing help to address debt (many of the CARICOM countries now have a debt-to-GDP ratio of over 60%); active support in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Financial Action Task Force for compensation for the high costs that result from compliance with their rules; financing for Climate Change adaptation; advocacy in the IMF and World Bank to make CARICOM states eligible for concessionary loans; and more Japanese investment in renewable energy and infrastructure.

Over all these discussions, of course, China casts a long shadow.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Sir Ronald Sanders. Sir Ronald Sanders is a Consultant and former Caribbean diplomat. Copyright to this article is held by Sir Ronald Sanders and may not be reproduced, republished, shared, hosted, transmitted, or distributed without prior written permission unless indicated otherwise.

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Ronald Sanders: China will cast a huge shadow as Japan meets CARICOM

PriceSmart ban breached CARICOM laws and Constitutions - Nicholson

The Government of Jamaica on Friday asserted that the recent ban by consumer goods distributor PriceSmart on Cuban diplomats shopping at that establishment in Kingston ran counter to the non-discrimination provisions, not only of Jamaican law and constitution, but also the laws and constitutions of other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States.

The ban was later lifted, after protests were lodged over the affair.

The position of the Jamaican Government on the matter was conveyed by Senator A.J Nicholson, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, during an exchange involving CARICOM Heads of Government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodriques Parilla. The exchange took place during the morning business session of the final day of the 35th Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government at the Sandals Grande Antigua Resort in Antigua and Barbuda.

Extraterritorial application

In expressing the views of the Government of Jamaica, Minister Nicholson noted that the “unfortunate ban” was one of the worst expressions of the extraterritorial application of United States law. He noted that Jamaica worked strenuously within the institutions of CARICOM to have the matter dealt with.

“We were committed within COFCOR (Council for Foreign and Community Relations of CARICOM) that this invidious situation could not stand and we would have been willing to seek audience with the Attorney General of the United States on this matter,” Nicholson said.

He reiterated Jamaica’s commitment to deepening relations with Cuba and noted that several economic, technical and cultural programmes continue to be pursued in the interest of the people of both Cuba and Jamaica, as is the case involving the people of several other CARICOM Member countries.

The Cuban Foreign Minister conveyed the appreciation of the Government and people of Cuba to CARICOM for having displayed solidarity with the Cuban Government on the PriceSmart issue, among several other international relations matters.

The 5th CARICOM-Cuba Summit is to be held on December 8 in Havana, Cuba.

SOURCE: OPM

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PriceSmart ban breached CARICOM laws and Constitutions - Nicholson

Ganja Commission to be established by CARICOM

CARICOM leaders have agreed to the establishment of  a Commission to further the debate on the decriminalisation of  marijuana for medicinal purposes. 

CARICOM Secretary-General, Irwin La Rocque, told reporters attending the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Antigua and Barbuda on Thursday that, while the composition of  the Commission is yet to be determined it will most likely be made up of  experts.

He said the objective of  the Commission is to conduct an inquiry into the social, economic, health and legal issues surrounding marijuana use in the Caribbean.

Jamaica

In 2000, the Government of Jamaica established its own National Commission on Ganja, chaired by Professor Barry Chevannes. That body, after nine months of consultations, presented its findings and recommendations in August, 2011.

The Chevannes Commission recommended, among other things, “the decriminalisation of ganja for personal, private use by adults and for use as a sacrament for religious purposes.”

It recommended further that “a Cannabis Research Agency be set up, in collaboration with other countries, to coordinate research into all aspects of cannabis, including its epidemiological and psychological effects, and importantly as well its pharmacological and economic potential, such as is being done by many other countries, not least including some of the most vigorous in its suppression.”

On June 12, 2014, thirteen years after the Chevannes Commission completed its work, Justice Minister Mark Golding announced a number of changes to the country’s highly restrictive anti-ganja regime, including the decriminalisation of possession of small quantities of the substance. Posseesion of ganja (canabis, marijuana) for religious or medicinal uses and scientific research by approved institutions will be allowed, he explained.

A week later it was also announced that Senator Golding would chair an inter-Ministerial sub-committee established to craft a legal framework for the development of  medical ganja and industrial hemp industries in Jamaica.

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Ganja Commission to be established by CARICOM

Incoming CARICOM Chairman stresses importance of “unity”

Peter Richards

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Wednesday July 2, 2014, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders began their 35th annual summit here on Tuesday night with a reminder that the individual members countries of the regional integration grouping are too small and too vulnerable to sustain themselves in a changing global environment.

Newly elected Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, the incoming chairman of the 15-member grouping, told the ceremony that unity was required to deal with an international community in which the rich and powerful achieve national advantage “even at the expense of the poor and weak.

“The prospects for our salvation lies today in that same practical principle that inspired it 49 years ago when three leaders set afloat the idea of integration into the Caribbean Sea that has washed up mightily on all our shores to create our Caribbean Community of today,” Browne told the audience.

Five of the regional leaders, including Suriname’s President Desi Bouterse, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony, were not present at the ceremonial opening of the meeting.

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Browne said that each Caribbean country continues to sail on the “same uncertain sea except we are now buffeted by economic, social, financial and environmental storms that are more intense than we have ever experienced and that threaten our very survival”.

He told the ceremony that while the sceptics may regard him as the new kid on the block, starting off at a gallop only to stumble at the first obstacle, he administration was determined to ensure that in the future the Caribbean people survive being plummeted from all sides, including unfair trade, severely reduced official development assistance and greater demands for costly regulation and enforcement in financial services.

“But as none of our countries can effectively negotiate on its own, in this international community for better deals in trade, debt and access to capital so too none of our countries can advance the work of reparations on its own,” he said, pledging his commitment to the Reparation Commission to achieve “reparatory justice for the victims of genocide, slavery, slave trading and racial apartheid”.

Browne said that 26 years ago, Caribbean leaders adopted the Grand Anse Declaration” as a means of responding to the challenges and opportunities presented by the changes in the global economy.

He said that a number of initiatives were identified and the implementation of which “were eagerly anticipated.

“The initiatives did not compromise national sovereignty or diminish in anyw ay the articular characteristics of our people, their objective as to work towards the establishment, in the shortest possible time, of a single market and economy for the Caribbean Community”.

But Prime Minister Browne said 25 years later, a single market is work unfinished and a single conomy is a work not yet begun.

“Had that work been undertaken, not by constantly looking over our shoulders at those with a vested interest in narrow insularity, but by steadfastly advancing to the goal of regional prosperity, might we not have been better off today as a stronger region with greater capacity to bargain in the global community?

Browne said that critical to the success of CARICOM as an integration movement are effective governance and free movement among others, telling his regional colleagues “let us all commit ourselves to the removal of all barriers to free movement and to accelerate the strengthening of the CARICOM Secretariat to perfect and advance the single market and economy.

“If we are serious about CARICOM as an instrument for the development of our countries and of the region, we should focus on a priority action plan that is strategically linked to achieving the core objectives of the single market and economy”.

Browne said that advancing the integration movement cannot be achieved by waiting for the “most reluctant of us to act” adding that “perhaps the time has come for integration by a coalition of the eilling in various sectors of the economy instead of allowing those who are reluctant to stymie our efforts to advance”.

He said for example, there could be collaboration between willing governments and the private sector in the ownership of productive operations in each other’s countries.

He said one or two governments can come together and invest in a project in a country with natural resources that culd be developed into a viable project that would create an income stream not only for the government in which the resources reside, but also the governments that would have invested in the venture.

“Similarly while one government might lack the credit standing to rasie money in the capita market, if two or more governments approach the market together with equity stakes in the projects they have a better chance of success,” he adde.

In his address, Browne acknowledged that unemployment among young people in the region as extremely high and suggested the establishment of a Commission “specifically to focus on the issue of youth unemployment in our region with a view to taking urgent action to tackle it.

“I suggest that if the idea of such a Commission meets the approval of this conference, evidence can be taken from young people across our region on how they see the issue being addressed,” Browne said, adding “our greatest task is to put our people to work”.

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Incoming CARICOM Chairman stresses importance of “unity”

St Vincent prime minister mum on CARICOM marijuana debate

Man smoking marijuana (File photo)

Kenton Chance

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, Wednesday July 2, 2014, CMC - Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says he will not speculate about the outcome of the discussion within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as it relates to the decriminalisation of marijuana for medical purposes.

He further sidestepped a question on whether his government is willing to follow the lead of Jamaica, which last month decriminalised small quantities of marijuana for personal use.

“A process had commenced in CARICOM,” Gonsalves said told reporters as he prepared to handover the chairmanship of the 15-member grouping Tuesday.

Newly elected Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne will take over the CARICOM chairmanship for the next six months.

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“There is a commission, which would be appointed and there are terms of reference to be approved at this meeting in Antigua,” he said.

“I would not prejudge what the commission will say,” Gonsalves said, adding that the commission will consider changes to marijuana legislations in countries around the world, including Jamaica, the United States, Sweden, and Uruguay.

“They will look at any number of places and they will make their recommendations. I await those recommendations, because I feel even in the absence of those recommendations, it seems to me counterproductive to ignore the potential of an industry in respect of medical marijuana and to continue to expend police, national security, court resources on persons who consume a minuscule amount of marijuana in the privacy of their homes,” said Gonsalves, who initiated the CARICOM discussion on the decriminalisation of marijuana.

State and health officials in several CARICOM countries have expressed reservation or outright opposition to changes to marijuana legislation.

“There are young people, good boys and girls, in many cases, good Christian boys and girls, good students who get caught behind their grandmothers’ houses smoking under 15 grammes of marijuana — a spliff,” Gonsalves said.

He noted that the laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines classify as possession with intent to supply the possession of more than 15 grammes (0.5 ounce) of marijuana.

“There are persons who have been criminalised for smoking a joint. With all the years of experience I have and all the studies I have to this matter, that seems to me to be entirely counterproductive and we need to have a serious conversation about that,” said Gonsalves, a lawyer, who is also Minister of Legal Affairs and national security.

“You don’t need to have an absolutely moral position on it, the same thing with alcohol. At the same time, whatever programme is done, we have to speak about negative side of marijuana and we have to deal with the educational and health issues attendant upon the misuse and abuse of marijuana.

“But what I have just said there does not in any way shut out an intelligent mature conversation on medical marijuana or for its decriminalisation in respect of very small quantities in your private spaces. It’s a subject about which we should talk and there are people who are afraid to talk about it,” he said.

He further accused the opposition New Democratic Party of not contributing to the discussion.

“They are afraid to touch it, because it is such a controversial subject. But, if I see reason in having a mature conversation on something, I don’t see why we shouldn’t. Some other issue may better be left to NGOs to initiate those conversations and have them.

“But I think this matter has reached a stage where at the state level it requires some serious conversation, which is happening at CARICOM,” Gonsalves said.

“I would not, therefore, prejudge what will happen and I therefore do not accept your invitation in that context to speculate on a hypothetical question,” he added.

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St Vincent prime minister mum on CARICOM marijuana debate

CARICOM Secretary General calls for collective solutions to Caribbean challenges

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Wednesday July 2, 2014, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Irwin La Rocque says regional countries must find collective solutions to the serious challenges being posed by an ever changing global environment.

La Rocque, speaking at the opening of the 35th CARICCOM Summit here on Tuesday night, said that Dickinson Bay where the three-day summit is being held provides an opportunity for Caribbean governments “to do what is required to make our integration arrangements more effective in its response to the challenges of the day”.

In December 1965, the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago signed the Dickenson Bay Agreement, establishing the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), the forerunner to CARICOM.

But La Rocque told delegates that in order to make the transition, regional countries “must find collective solutions to the serious challenges, particularly with respect to our economic condition, that threaten the hard won gains of our people.

“The structural and institutional characteristics which affect growth in our small, vulnerable economies combine to restrict our ability to compete internationally, expose our vulnerability to external events, and constrain our capacity for adjustment.”

He said that vulnerability is demonstrated by the lingering effects of the global economic and financial crisis in the region resulting among other things in stubbornly low growth rates.

“When added to a heavy debt burden and falling fiscal revenues, it leaves our governments with precious little room to manoeuvre especially as the International Financial Institutions and our development partners use the misleading criterion of per capita income to graduate us out of access to much needed concessionary development financing.”

La Rocque said importantly, neither the economic and financial crises nor the causes of climate change, originated within the Caribbean.

“However, there is analytical evidence to prove that their impact on the economies of most CARICOM States has heightened the debt and fiscal challenges we face.

“Formidable as these challenges are, our Community’s history clearly shows that we have never been daunted in the face of trials. It is now, in this period of acute economic stress faced by our region that the spirit of unity that brings us together in all forms of adversity, is infusing our actions as we seek to build the Community’s resilience to withstand the shocks, whether they are economic, social or climatic.”

He said never before in recent history, have so many of our member states faced such challenges at the same time for such a protracted period.

La Rocque said that it is in recognition of the need to find a regional resolution to the regional problem that regional governments mandated that “we prepare a strategic plan, which seeks to reposition the Community and which will inform the institutional mechanism to carry it forward.

“Having consulted extensively throughout the Community over the past year, the first ever Community Strategic Plan has been prepared. That plan, geared towards refocusing, redirecting, and reorganising the Community, is before this meeting and will set our course for the immediate future and beyond.”

He said the plan has identified eight strategic priorities to address the challenges over the five year period.

“Broadly, this will involve building resilience in the economic, social, environmental and technological areas, as well as strengthening governance and our spirit of Community. Co-ordinating our foreign and external economic relations, and research, development and innovation are also essential elements of the strategy.”

But the region’s top public servant warned that the key to the success of the plan is agreement on the priority activities and the steps to implement them.

“That in itself will be a sign that we are truly on the way to achieving that mature regionalism which is required to guide the future of our Community. We must now harness and channel our resources optimally, to get the results that will benefit the people of the Community.

“A critical factor in delivering those benefits is how we organise ourselves to make it possible in an effective and efficient manner. This is a plan for the Community and all of the Community must be involved.

“To succeed would entail a level of co-operation and co-ordination involving our Member States, all the Institutions of the Community and the Secretariat operating, within a responsive governance structure with clear lines of accountability under the direction of our Heads of Government,” La Roque added.

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CARICOM Secretary General calls for collective solutions to Caribbean challenges

Barbados minister says CARICOM lacks solidarity in Caribbean rum fight with US

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Tuesday July 1, 2014, CMC - Trade, Industry and Commerce Minister, Donville Inniss, has compared the current trade issue with the United States over rum to the banana struggle of the 90s, and criticised regional leaders for lack of support in the effort.

Millions of dollars and thousands of jobs have been put at stake for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) workers and rum producers as the US continues to place massive subsidies on rum made Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands that enter the United States market with a competitive edge over the product from the rest of the Caribbean.

But Inniss said on television on Monday that his government’s efforts at forming a united CARICOM front to lobby for changes to the unfair trade condition has not yielded responses from other regional leaders.

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“It it time that they face a bit of realty. It is time that prime ministers in the region really get out of their lofty offices, get out on the streets and understand the importance of solidarity on key matters,” Inniss said.

“We are facing it with the banana issue, today we are facing it with the rum issue. I as a politician in this region am totally embarrassed with the lack of interest on the part of the region,” he added. “Stop the dress-up in expensive suits and the fancy foods and face realities.”

Caribbean countries have in the past reiterated the need for an amicable solution to the rum dispute with the United States. The regional countries say they are determined to seek a satisfactory solution to the matter of trade-distorting subsidies being granted to the USVI and Puerto Rico rum producers that threaten the long-term viability of the rum industry in the Caribbean.

In December 2012, the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) said the region was having ‘serious concerns’ regarding the competitiveness of Caribbean rum in the United States.

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Barbados minister says CARICOM lacks solidarity in Caribbean rum fight with US

CARICOM summit gets underway

Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller and other CARICOM leaders will begin their annual summit in Antigua today discussing the first ever Strategic Plan for the 15-member regional grouping.   

The five year plan, 2015 to 2019, will dominate the four day event.  CARICOM officials hope it will reposition the region to deal with a changing global environment. 

The plan was developed following widespread public consultation across the region. The leaders will seek to reach agreement on priority areas for attention over the period of  the plan.

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CARICOM summit gets underway

Prime Minister off to CARICOM Heads of Gov. summit

Environment Minister Robert Pickersgill has been left in charge of  the Government as Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller heads to Antigua for the CARICOM Heads of  Government summit.

Leaders attending the  summit, which starts on Tuesday and ends Friday, will consider a range of  issues, including a report from the CARICOM Commission on the Economy and the status of  negotiations for a CARICOM – Canada Trade and Development Agreement.

In addition, several business leaders from, and operating in CARICOM countries will discuss with the Heads of  Government, economic priorities for the region.

Discussions will also be held with the Prime Minister of  Spain on issues including advancing technical cooperation with CARICOM.

Simpson Miller returns to Jamaica on Saturday

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Prime Minister off to CARICOM Heads of Gov. summit

Caricom secretary general optimistic about region"s future

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General Irwin La Rocque says 2014 promises new directions for the 15-member regional integration movement as it seeks to deliver more immediate and tangible benefits to the people of the Caribbean.

In his end-of-year message, the Dominican-born LaRocque said 2013, which marked the 40th anniversary of Caricom, underscored the determination and commitment of the region to forge a common destiny as small unified states in this unique corner of the world called the Caribbean.He said the anniversary theme of “Celebration and Renewal” remained relevant “as we bask in our Caribbean-ness, rekindle the spirit of community and continue our integration quest with an outlook that is shaped by new thinking and different approaches”.He said that outlook would be influenced by the necessity for appropriate responses to the current global environment which has placed member states in dire straits, stymieing growth and development and denying the Caribbean the wherewithal to create a better standard of living for the people of the region.“Indeed, the vulnerability of our member states and their capacity for resilience came into stark relief last week in St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Dominica, when severe weather visited death and destruction and caused a setback to development efforts there,” said the secretary general.The weather system has also been blamed for the deaths of 15 people so far and governments of these three Caribbean countries say they would require hundreds of millions of dollars in the rehabilitation exercise.La Rocque said that the new outlook would also be shaped by the review and reform of the integration movement being undertaken at the request of regional governments, adding “we are on schedule to achieve early in the new year one of our key milestones — the completion of the draft Five-Year Strategic Plan”.The plan was crafted following consultations with stakeholders across the region and sets out a common vision, identities priority areas of focus over the period and also addresses issues of implementability including the roles and responsibilities of all participants in the community’s architecture.“Unsurprisingly, sustainable economic growth and development emerged as one of the primary areas of concern for stakeholders across the spectrum with whom the Change Team interacted over the past year, and it is our intention, through the efforts of the recently established Caricom Commission on the Economy, to explore possible avenues to put us on a sustainable path,” La Rocque said.He said the commission would provide advice on implementable solutions based particularly on the priority areas set out in the Caricom growth agenda.“For the Caribbean Community, therefore, 2014 dawns with the promise of new directions, prioritisation on the critical areas that will deliver more immediate and tangible benefits to our peoples, more strategic approaches and the continued emphasis on our youth and empowerment of our citizens,” he added.

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Caricom secretary general optimistic about region"s future

CARICOM re-affirms commitment to ensure the development of Haiti

UNITED NATIONS (CMC) – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Wednesday said it remained committed called to working with the international community in the development of Haiti, still recovering from a 2010 earthquake that killed an estimated 300,000 people and left more than a million others homeless.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Rodney Charles, told the United Nations Security Council debate on Haiti that the 15-member regional grouping was appreciative of the work done so far in the re-development of the French-speaking CARICOM country.“For us, in CARICOM, the stability and economic development of Haiti is inextricably linked to the wider development agenda of our sub-region. Consequently, CARICOM lauds the efforts of MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti) which has facilitated increased stability in Haiti,” Charles said in his address on behalf of the CARICOM grouping.He said CARICOM also welcomed the decision of the Security Council to renew MINUSTAH’s mandate until October 15th, 2013, and support the recommendation of the Secretary General that the mandate be extended until 2014.“CARICOM further welcomes plans to encourage investment which will play a critical role in spurring the social and economic development of Haiti”But the Trinidad diplomat said that CARICOM countries “submit that international assistance must be aligned with Haiti’s national priorities to ensure that there is appropriate national ownership of programmes intended to benefit the Haitian people”.He said CARICOM was also welcomed the strides made by the Haitian government to achieve certain political milestones which are indicative of progress.“We remain optimistic that the forward momentum achieved thus far will be sustained and that all parties involved in the political process would be able to rise above the differences that exist between them and, in the spirit of compromise, work together to put in place the machinery for the holding of the overdue partial senatorial, municipal and local elections.”He said CARICOM had also taken note of the progress made in upholding the rule of law in Haiti as exemplified in the government’s “5 E” policy programme which lists the rule of law as one of its pillars.“We are heartened by the reduction in civil unrest and the incidences of homicides and kidnappings and encouraged by the fact that the political and security situation in the country has remained relatively stable with a notable decrease in major crimes.“We are encouraged by the appearance in court in February of this year of two former presidents. We view these as positive signals of an emerging trend towards stability and evidence of an increasing acceptance of the judicial process, which is an indispensible ingredient for the maintenance of the rule of law.”Charles said that CARICOM countries were also encouraged that the performance of the HaitianNational Police has continued to improve since it assumed increasing responsibility for the provision of internal security.But he told the UN Security Council that the region notes “however that the targets of the National Police Development Plan requires continued commitment by the government as well as Haiti’s partners in order to ensure that adequate resources are available to support its viability”.Charles said there have been a number of other positive developments in Haiti following the devastating earthquake in 2010 and the further destruction caused following hurricane Sandy last year.He said these advancements include the establishment of the inter-Ministerial Committee on human rights, the resettlement of a number of formerly displaced persons, and efforts to address the cholera epidemic, including those undertaken in line with the initiative of the UN Secretary General to support national plans in this regard.“The efforts made by Haitian authorities to propel socio-economic development, including strides made by President (Michel) Martelly to attract foreign direct investment are also noteworthy,” Charles said, noting however that CARICOM “remains gravely concerned about the declining international aid to sustain the rehabilitation work in Haiti.“This situation is unacceptable in the midst of the hurricane season when Haiti remains vulnerable to the effects of devastating storms. We therefore urge all parties to pay outstanding contributions to ensure the timely execution of the mandates of United Nations Peacekeeping Missions whose work is crucial to the fostering of peace, security, stability, the protection of human rights and the promotion of development in respective States.”Charles said that CARICOM remains committed to working together with other partners in the international community in support of the agenda of the Haitian Government and MINUSTAH’s efforts in this regard, to facilitate lasting stability as well as the social and economic development of Haiti.Patrick FosterLike our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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CARICOM re-affirms commitment to ensure the development of Haiti

Digicel to abolish US, Caricom roaming charges

Business

Friday, August 09, 2013

Digicel will eliminate roaming charges for clients travelling within the US and Caricom, effective October 1, 2013.Phillip Paulwell, Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) president, announced the agreement with the mobile telecoms giant throughout the region on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the joint CTU, International Telecommunications Caribbean Ministerial Forum on ICT in Port of Spain, Trinidad.“After some negotiation, Digicel has agreed as of October 1, 2013, on the abolition of voice roaming on Digicel’s network in Caricom countries. Each travelling subscriber will be treated as if he is using his local/domestic Digicel network throughout the region and therefore will be billed accordingly,” said Paulwell, who is also Minister of Technology, Energy and Mining in Jamaica.In a press release late yesterday evening, Digicel announced that it will dispense of US roaming rates as well.Paulwell said negotiations would continue with Digicel for the abolition of roaming on data charges by year-end, and for the removal of taxes on international calls in Jamaica and Haiti.Discussions are ongoing with LIME, the region’s other major telecoms provider, on a plan for that company to eliminate roaming charges, the CTU president said.“The overall aim is to abolish roaming for both voice and data, and the objective is to achieve this by year-end,” Paulwell said.“Those charges hinder affordable communication between Caribbean people, and as we move toward greater regional unity, we must take every opportunity to remove the barriers that keep us apart.” PAULWELL… we must take every opportunity to remove the barriers that keep us apart.

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Digicel to abolish US, Caricom roaming charges

Govt dismisses calls for Jamaica’s withdrawal from CARICOM

News

Thursday, August 01, 2013 | 10:23 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – The Jamaican government reiterated its commitment to the regional integration movement, CARICOM and dismissed calls for the island to quit the 15-member grouping.Foreign Affairs Minister, AJ Nicholson in a statement in the Upper House on Wednesday addressed comments from Opposition leader Andrew Holness and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) legislator Dr Christopher Tufton that the country could benefit from a “temporary pull out of CARICOM”.While Nicholson acknowledged that Jamaica may not be benefiting from CARICOM in the way it should, he said a withdrawal would affect benefits under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of goods, skills, services and labour across the community.“In the context of a withdrawal from the CSME Jamaica would in effect be preventing its nationals and companies from utilizing the provisions under the CSME for free movement of skilled persons, capital, services and right of establishment.“This would mean that those Jamaican nationals who have successfully moved to other CARICOM countries under the skills regime, would be required to amend their status in those countries,” he said. Nicholson said a split from CARICOM would also affect several regional organisations, including the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and the Caribbean Financial Cooperation.He argued that Jamaica has gained a high standing in CARICOM and this would be jeopardised with a temporary withdrawal.

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Govt dismisses calls for Jamaica’s withdrawal from CARICOM

Caricom head wants greater assistance for developing countries

NEW YORK, USA (CMC) — The seventh general meeting of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), its associated institutions and the United Nations began here yesterday with Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque underscoring the importance of providing aid to developing countries like those in the Caribbean to ensure their future socio-economic development.

In addition, La Rocque, who said the forum provides an excellent opportunity for discussions on issues of benefit to Caribbean people, also urged the world community to assist in the fight against crime which he said was strangling the Caribbean’s development.“Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, with the current global events, all of which demand your attention, it is heartening that our Caribbean Community’s biennial encounter is of sufficient importance to ensure your presence,” LaRocque said, noting that the 15-member grouping placed much importance on the deliberations.“These biennial meetings are not merely ritual encounters or polite engagements, but are vital working sessions in which discussions are of necessity, strategic, pragmatic, forward-looking and results-oriented.“The meetings provide an excellent opportunity for regional and international technical experts, who are well informed and well positioned, to exchange views, diagnose current cooperation and to identify concrete projects in specific priority areas which will yield results on the ground, ensuring tangible benefits to the citizens of the Caribbean Community.”LaRocque said that the meeting was taking place at a time when the world is contemplating the future beyond the global development compact represented by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).He noted that Antigua and Barbuda’s diplomat, John Ashe, was also assuming the presidency of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly beginning next month that will be crucial in setting the stage for the launch of the post-2015 agenda.“We have a great interest in developments in relation to its elaboration, and our Community will take an active role in the deliberations with a view to ensuring that the region’s interests are adequately and effectively addressed.“We seek an integrated, comprehensive and flexible Development Agenda building on the lessons learned from the MDGs and which is responsive to the diverse development realities with which individual countries and regions are confronted.”LaRocque said that one of the critical areas in which the UN and Caricom have forged an enduring and important partnership is citizen security, which he described as “an issue of paramount concern to the Caribbean Community”.He said such are the dimensions of the scourge of crime and insecurity in the region that Caricom leaders have made security the fourth pillar of the Community.“Caricom joined the global family of nations earlier this year, under the auspices of the United Nations, to adopt a landmark agreement, the Arms Trade Treaty.“For us in the Caribbean, the stemming of the illegal trade in arms, and in particular Small Arms and Light Weapons, is of paramount importance. Such illegal trade, in which the Caribbean finds itself a vulnerable transiting point, is wreaking havoc in our small communities, terrorising neighbourhoods, claiming innocent lives, and compromising our economies by undermining our investment climate and socio-economic development efforts. “LaRocque said that Caricom fully understands that crime in the Caribbean cannot be solved by such interventions alone and must do its part to help itself and has since developed a targeted strategy to address the issue.“The 2013 Caricom Crime and Security Strategy is an important weapon in the Caribbean arsenal to fight the war against crime and I look forward to the UN’s full support in its implementation including through the long- awaited re-opening of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Barbados.”In his address, the region’s top public servant said that development threats come in many forms, and even as the Caribbean grapples with those posed by crime, it grapples too with the effects of a protracted global financial and economic crisis that holds many of its small developing economies in a near stranglehold.He said small economies like those of Caricom have structural and institutional characteristics which increase their vulnerability to external events and limit their capacity for adjustment.“This situation is exacerbated by onerous debt, and graduation from access to concessionary development funding based on criteria, such as GDP (gross domestic product) per capita, which do not take due account of vulnerability.“The resulting prognosis for Caricom’s economic resilience is unfavourable. Our member states are, however, firm in their commitment that the Caricom Single Market and Economy is the best means to attain sustainable development in the region.”LaRocque said that the recently held Caricom summit in Trinidad and Tobago provided an avenue for the regional leaders to discuss a framework to generate economic growth and development and in so doing recognised the need to pursue a development path which engenders inclusiveness of all stakeholders.He said that path should also lift the knowledge base, innovation capability, and entrepreneurial capacity of the region’s people to engage in competitive, higher value-added economic activities.“However, while these undertakings must be Caricom-owned and driven, they can only be realistically achieved if Caricom can examine, adapt and adjust global best practices to its needs, and benefit from the kind of international expertise and support that international organisations, such as the UN and its agencies, can offer. “He told the conference that climate change was also another matter of relevance to the region’s development, adding that as Caricom pursues its development agenda, it is obliged to factor in what for many seems like an abstract threat, “but what for us is a lived, fearsome reality”.“I refer here to the effect of climate change and the related phenomena of sea level rise, increasing oceanic temperatures, and increased and more intense weather events. The Community’s advocacy regarding the implications of these intertwined phenomena on the socio-economic and fragile physical environment of the low lying island and coastal states of Caricom is a fight for our very survival. “LaRocque said the region’s call for reliable, accessible, and sufficient climate financing, through mechanisms such as the UNFCC Green Climate Fund to allow it to build capacity to adapt and mitigate, is a critical factor in our pursuit of sustainable development.“It is essential for Caricom, in pursuit of its goals, to engage in strategic alliances and sound negotiating and lobbying strategies. It also needs to have access to credible expertise, which the UN through its relevant institutions has been pivotal in providing.“We count on that continued support as Caricom prepares to participate in the Third International Conference for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Samoa in September next year. “He said another key area for Caricom is non-communicable diseases (NCDs) recalling that the UN High Level Meeting convened in September 2011 at the initiative of the regional grouping had focused global attention on the scourge that NCDs represents.“The assistance and expertise of PAHO/WHO (Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation) contributed greatly to the success of the initiative which culminated with the adoption of a Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of NCDs. Continuing multi-sectoral action is required for the implementation of the Political Declaration and for the preparation of the comprehensive review in 2014.“It is our understanding that all UN Resident Coordinators, by a joint communication of UNDP and WHO, have been mandated to ensure that the UN System gives priority to supporting implementation of the Political Declaration. This is deeply appreciated.“In the Caribbean, we look forward to the coordination of the efforts of the UN System by UNDG LAC, a commitment made when it visited the Caricom Secretariat last November. In this regard, a UN inter-agency support group in the Caribbean would be useful,” LaRocque added.LAROCQUE… small economies like those of Caricom have structural and institutional characteristics that increase their vulnerability

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Caricom head wants greater assistance for developing countries

JLP serious about suspending relations with Caricom — Holness

OPPOSITION Leader Andrew Holness says that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) believes that Jamaica should consider suspending its relationship with the Caribbean Community (Caricom) until it sorts out current issues with the regional body.

“There could be a suspension until we get our house in order, so that we can participate on equal footing with everyone,” Holness told the Jamaica Observer at this week’s Monday Exchange.The Opposition leader, who was echoing the point made by his party’s spokesman on foreign affairs and foreign trade, Dr Christopher Tufton at a Kingston Lion’s Club meeting last week, said that it was an indication of the party’s consistency on the position.“We do not believe that Jamaica’s interests are necessarily being fully served by Caricom, and that’s not a statement from which we hide: We have made that statement before,” Holness said defiantly, as he spoke to the editors and reporters on his party’s 70th anniversary at the Observer’s Beechwood Avenue office in Kingston.“We believe that a weak Jamaica does not make a strong Caricom; so, for Caricom to be strong, Jamaica has to be strong, and if it is that Jamaica is not being served by the relationship, then we need to examine it,” Holness said.Senior spokesmen for the JLP have been promoting the idea of Jamaica temporarily pulling out of Caricom to rethink its relationship with the regional body, for several months now. The call was first made by the party’s spokesman on industry, commerce and energy, Gregory Mair; then its spokesman on transport and works, Karl Samuda; and more recently by Dr Tufton, who said that Jamaica’s best bet in dealing with Caricom trading issues would be a temporary withdrawal.“This period would also be sufficient for a comprehensive examination to be done, to determine if Jamaica should leave Caricom in its current form and, instead, seek functional collaboration on matters of strategic, regional and international importance,” Dr Tufton said.But, Holness went further on Monday, identifying the Common External Tariff (CET) as one of the land mines on the path to a more co-operative attitude towards the regional body.He said that the rush in the 1990s to create the tariff has not necessarily benefited Jamaica.“We have not been opposed to the creation of a common market, but we want to see a situation in which Jamaica benefits, and I have said that we are a Jamaica first party: Jamaica’s interests first, and that needs to be looked at,” the Opposition leader argued.Holness also suggested that a widened area of trade co-operation, including closer ties with Latin American countries like Colombia and Venezuela, was envisaged by his party.He noted that Jamaica already has strong economic links with Venezuela, primarily through the PetroCaribe oil agreement, while pointing out that Jamaica could benefit immensely from improving its trade with Colombia, as well as Panama.“We share an economic zone which can be mutually exploited, and Colombia is transforming itself in an amazing way. I think we need to strengthen these relationships,” he said, noting that Jamaica also has significant heritage ties with its Latin neighbours, including Colombia, Panama and Cuba.He said that the US embargo against Cuba cannot remain in perpetuity, and once the Cuba economy is released from those shackles there will significant investment shifts in the region.“We don’t want to appear anti-Caricom, but for Jamaica to advance, we have to look elsewhere. We have to be prepared not to become a consequence of this investment shift, but to be a beneficiary,” Holness said.HOLNESS… we believe that a weak Jamaica does not make a strong Caricom (PHOTO: NAPHTALI JUNIOR)

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JLP serious about suspending relations with Caricom — Holness