Caribbean News Now!

By Cathy Lashley

CASTRIES, St Lucia (BGIS) -- Contrary to rumours, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is invigorated and on a clear path to development, said Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, as he provided an update on the status of the Community to members of the media.

His comments were made late Wednesday at the end of day one of the 33rd regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM. The three-day summit is being held in Castries, St Lucia.

He said: "The speeches you heard this morning [at the opening ceremony] all attested to the fact that CARICOM is alive and well. Yes, we have our challenges- but who doesn't, and what you heard this morning would have left you in no doubt that regional heads are determined to wrestle these challenges to the ground, and to ensure that this movement survives. The stakes are too high; the people of the region expect us to deliver on this project, and we are determined to do so."

Asked if he thought Jamaica was committed to the regional integration movement, since there were some concerns expressed in the media that the CARICOM state was not fully on board, Stuart noted: "I don't think anybody can be in any doubt now about the commitment of the Government of Jamaica to the regional integration process. As I indicated yesterday, (Tuesday) Jamaica was one of the signatories to the Treaty of Chaguaramas and has, from then until now, with varying degrees of intensity, committed itself to the regional integration movement.

"It will be recalled that between 1976 and about 1983, CARICOM heads [of government] did not meet at all but, since then, heads have met consistently and Jamaica has always been at the table, as have been all of the other signatories of the Treaty of Chaguaramas. So, that question has been answered".

At the close of yesterday's business session, the CARICOM heads examined ways of advancing the regional agenda for economic development, and they exchanged views with the secretary-general of the Organisation of American States, José Miguel Insulza, and the secretary-general of the African Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP), Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas.

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Doc.Love:

I dont agree with the notion that Caricum is alive and well.You recently had a Caricum member signing a communique to expel USAID. While the United Nations was showing its disapproval with Libya's concern for human lives,a Caricum country was supporting Libya. Presently,I am aware of two Barbados nationals that are interfering in Dominica's electoral process. We all talk of freedom of the press and people come first, I would like to ask the P.M. of Barbados,whereas he meets the press regularly, please ask the PM of Dominica,when was the last time he met the Dominican press. Maybe Caricum is alive when it's leaders seat together sipping Mount Gay Rum or Boise Barday Rum, but all is not well when it comes to the Democracy of the Caribbean people.