Caricom accepts Lewis governance report
Another five-year term for Carrington
Stabroek News
February 15, 2007
Caricom heads have accepted a report by Professor Vaughan Lewis on governance of the community and wide-ranging consultations are to be held followed by the presentation of an interim report at the meeting of heads in Barbados in July.
In the communiqué released last night following the February 12-13 inter-sessional meeting in Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the heads accepted the report presented by Lewis, the Chairman of the Technical Working Group on Governance (TWG) and lauded it as having fulfilled the terms of reference of the TWG.
An executive-type governance body for Caricom has been on the agenda again for several years now since the Jamaica Rose Hall Declaration but progress has been slow. It had also been recommended by the West Indian Commission but not pursued.
The communiqué yesterday said that countries which had a different model of governance from that proposed in the report would be invited to submit these models to the Secretary-General as soon as possible. The report has not been made public as yet.
Notwithstanding the pending submissions, the St Vincent conference agreed that members should consider the policy issues and recommendations contained in the TWG report and that "wide-ranging consultations should be held with other stakeholders including the parliamentary opposition and civil society, before the submission of their positions.
The conference also agreed to re-establish the Inter-governmental task force with a view to recommending the necessary changes to the Revised Treaty.
The process will be guided by the lead head for justice and governance and an interim report would be presented for consideration at the Barbados meeting in July.
Meanwhile, the conference agreed to re-appoint Edwin Carrington as secretary general for a further five years from August 1, 2007. Richard Bernal has also been reappointed as Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery.
On free movement, the heads backed proposals for streamlining arrangements that will facilitate the free movement of artisans in the regional labour market. The system approved by the Heads of Government will allow for artisans to obtain credentials through the award of Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) based on occupational standards set by the industry. The CVQ is to be in place by July 2007.
Conference also agreed that the free movement of domestics and hospitality workers can be accommodated in similar vein to the free movement of artisans and shall be considered after the CVQ Model is inaugurated.
Conference also received the report on agriculture by President Bharrat Jagdeo. His presentation focused on the role of the sector within the framework of the Caricom single market and economy. The heads agreed that a CARICOM Agricultural Donor Conference will be held in June 2007 in Trinidad and Tobago to garner resources for the sector.
Heads agreed that the "strategy going forward should be framed within a results-oriented management process with benchmarks and impact assessment built in."
CWC 2007
Head were told that emphasis is being placed on ensuring that stadia are completed and adequate hotel accommodation is available to meet the requirements of the Host Venue Agreement with the ICC.
"It was agreed that every effort must be made by all relevant stakeholders, including the Tourist Boards, hoteliers, customs and immigration officials, as well as our CARICOM citizens to make visitors' experience to the Region a memorable one."
Heads were also told that the sale of tickets was proceeding quite well and urged CARICOM nationals to get out in large numbers to support the event and the West Indies Team.
Heads were satisfied with the new intelligence-sharing initiatives introduced and concurred that these arrangements would become permanent beyond CWC 2007.
The Caricom leaders also received a report on a strategic plan for West Indies cricket and proposals of the WICB for establishing a Cricket Development Academy and for sustainable funding.
Also endorsed were the decisions by the WICB which has established a Sub-Committee, under the chairmanship of Ken Boyea of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to liaise with officials in each country on viable options for the use of the stadia and other facilities that were developed for World Cup Cricket. This would include making provision for sports other than cricket to be included.