| Today,
1st January 2006 the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
takes one of its most significant steps in the process
of regional integration, as the CARICOM Single Market
becomes a reality. It is my privilege and honour that
on this historic day I assume the chairmanship of
the Caribbean Community until 30 June 2006 during
which time Trinidad and Tobago will host the 17th
Intersessional Meeting of the Heads of Government
of the Community on the 9th and 10th of February.
Today,
the Single Market component of the CSME comes into
force, involving Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica,
Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. These States by
virtue of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, decisions
of the Conference of Heads of Government, and agreements
by their Governments, will have put in place the necessary
arrangements for the operation of the CARICOM Single
Market.
The
other CARICOM Member States, save The Bahamas and
Haiti which have not signified their intention to
participate in the CSME process and Montserrat - a
British Dependency, which is awaiting the necessary
instrument of entrustment from the United Kingdom
Government, have indicated that they expect/intend
to be on board by the end of the first quarter of
2006.
With
the advent of the Single Market, which was first mooted
in the Grand Anse Declaration adopted by CARICOM Heads
of Government at their 1989 meeting in Grenada, restrictions
on provision of services, free movement of capital
and of approved categories of skilled CARICOM nationals,
are removed among all Member States participating
in the Single Market arrangements.
The
categories of skilled CARICOM nationals include -
University Graduates, Media Workers, Musicians, Artistes
and Sports Persons. These nationals are now entitled,
in keeping with the appropriate procedures, to seek
employment in any of the participating Member States.
Further,
CARICOM nationals now have the right to establish
businesses, provide services and move capital in any
Member State of the Community under the same terms
and conditions granted to the nationals of that country.
These
provisions plus the enactment of the required laws
into domestic legislation form the basic elements
of the Single Market as provided for under the Revised
Treaty of Chaguaramas including the Single Market
and Economy. This Treaty which was signed by CARICOM
Heads of Government in 2002 replaces the original
1973 Treaty of Chaguaramas, which provided only for
the free movement of goods.
With
the Single Market now in force, work continues with
a view to bringing into being the CARICOM Single Economy
by 2008.
CARICOM
Heads of Government will be holding an official ceremony
in Jamaica in January 2006 to mark the historic milestone
of the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market.
|