An ever-present bugbear of such meetings is the problem of implementation. The Heads of Government and other leaders as well as ordinary citizens recognize that it is not politically astute to merely agree and pass resolutions but to ensure that the decisions taken are implemented in a timely, efficient and effective manner. In this viewpoint, I wish to make a few observations in terms of the management and administrative capacity with CARICOM and the responsible ministries in member countries.

Without doubt the entire region is suffering from a shortage of qualified and experienced managers and administrators. Personnel to many of the professional and other posts are recruited from the public service or academic institutions of member states. Few may have had a background in industrial and agricultural establishments or indeed the private sector. A similar syndrome pervades the national public and related services in member countries.

Norman Girvan, the Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States in commenting on the problem of implementation in the Daily Chronicle of July 6, indicated that:

“There are two views about what lies at the root of the problem. The cynical view is that there is an absence of political will on the part of Governments and their leaders. At its most extreme, this view accuses the leaders of political disingeniousness. It holds that leaders announce decisions at CARICOM meetings for public and political consumption only, knowing that they will not or cannot implement them when they get back home.”

Another observation made by many is that the structure and methodology of decision-making is time consuming, costly and constrained within a rigid framework of “Protocols” as well as the need for arriving at a “consensual” position by member states.

The recent decision is to set up a “CARICOM Commission” after a lot of “hee-hawing” to follow-up and implement decisions, would no doubt provide a framework for timely, cost-effective and expeditious implementation. Such an outcome would, however, depend on the political will, administrative determination and managerial capability, both at the level of CARICOM and member countries. A cardinal consideration would be the search for, and development of requisite Human Resources to service the Ministerial Councils of CARICOM as well as the relevant ministries of Member States.

Another “cloud” in CARICOM, as far as the ordinary citizens in individual countries is concerned, is a clear definition of “Political Integration,” vis-à-vis, Functional Cooperation. The latter is already an accepted and operational norm but many people are not clear as to what “Political Integration” implies both constitutionally and legally. Many citizens wonder whether it is a “creeping vine” towards a federal structure or one similar to the European Union.

It is interesting to note that the Heads of Government of Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines along with Trinidad and Tobago have agreed to examine the possibility of deepening “Political Integration,” perhaps in a more serious way than the “Manning Initiative” which was earlier suggested. In this regard, it was reported in the media that they would “commission the preparation of a concept paper” for possible consideration in September 2003.

I am of the view that many Caribbean citizens are eager to learn more of the implications of “Political Integration” and the ways in which it would relate to and affect national sovereignty of member states of CARICOM.

Indeed, among the dilemmas to be addressed in CARICOM is how to reconcile the case for national self-interest and sustainability within the context of “Political Integration” which is still to be spelt out in a definitive manner.