CARICOM: "In 1989, 13 of the now 15 members of CARICOM decided on an integrated development strategy to chart their way into the 21st century. This strategy, elaborated in the Grand Anse Declaration has as its key features.
Deepening economic integration by advancing beyond a common market towards a Single Market and Economy.
Widening the membership and thereby expanding the economic mass of the Caribbean Community – thus Suriname and Haiti were admitted as full members in 1995 and 2002 respectively.
Progressive insertion of the region into the global trading and economic system by strengthening trading links with non-traditional partners"
The strengthening of CARICOM’s participation in the global trading arena has been done through a series of bilateral trade agreements – Venezuela, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Cuba and most recently, Costa Rica – as well as by the full and effective participation in multilateral and other major trade negotiations, e.g., the World Trade Organization, the renegotiation of the Lomé and Cotonou arrangements with the European Union and the FTAA.As a result, CARICOM has been very active in implementing all three components of this strategy.
The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas provides the legal basis for the operation of the CSME. Matters regarding the legal interpretation of the Treaty will be addressed by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which is due to be inaugurated in 2005.
The CSME is designed to represent a single economic space where people, goods, services and capital can move freely. This will also require the harmonisation and coordination of social, economic and trade policies by participating Member States.
Many of the required changes have been made by participating territories on a gradual basis, in keeping with national Programmes for the Removal of Restrictions on the Right of Establishment, the Provision of Services and the Movement of Capital. Jamaica notified its Programme to CARICOM in 2000.
Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados have agreed to lead the CSME implementation process by completing all of the required provisions as of 31 December 2004 in order to be fully CSME compliant on 1 January 2005. The remaining 11 countries will complete the process by 31 December 2005 to enable the region-wide launch of the CSME on 1 January 2006.
What has been achieved?
Jamaica has enacted the Revised Treaty into domestic law through the Caribbean Community Act. This means that the provisions of the Treaty can be enforced by the courts in Jamaica. The Act will come into force on a day designated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
Caribbean Court of Justice
The Government of Jamaica has taken steps to the Agreement establishing the CCJ into domestic law. In this regard, we have passed the CCJ Act, amended Section 110 of the Constitution to make the CCJ the highest Court of Jamaica in place of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and amended the Judicature (Appellate Jurisdiction) Act to make the CCJ the final Court of Appeal. Steps are now being taken to amend the final piece of applicable legislation i.e., the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act to ensure that the court and its staff have the necessary privileges and immunities to function as an International Judicial Institution.
Trade in Goods
The regime governing the free movement of goods is fully implemented. Jamaica, together with Most Member-States, applies the Common External Tariff (CET). All goods which meet the CARICOM rules of origin are traded duty free throughout the region (except The Bahamas). There are, however, some areas still to be developed:
The regime governing the free movement of goods is fully implemented. Jamaica, together with Most Member-States, applies the Common External Tariff (CET). All goods which meet the CARICOM rules of origin are traded duty free throughout the region (except The Bahamas). There are, however, some areas still to be developed:
- Treatment of products made in Free Zones – there is need for regional agreement on how these goods are to be treated.
- The removal of some specific non-tariff barriers in various member-states – national action required/none for Jamaica
In order to engage in the free movement of goods there has to be a guarantee that goods and services are of an acceptable standard. To this end, CARICOM members have established the Caribbean Regional Organization on Standards and Quality (CROSQ). This Organization was established by a separate agreement and has been implemented in domestic law in Jamaica by the Caribbean Regional Organization on Standards and Quality Act. The Organization will be responsible for establishing regional standards which all Member States must adhere to in the manufacture and trade of goods.
Regional Accreditation
The free movement of persons requires that there be regional accreditation bodies which can assess qualifications for equivalency. Member States have begun this process by the conclusion on the Agreement on Accreditation for Education in Medical and other Health professions. This Agreement establishes an Authority which will be responsible for accrediting doctors and other health care personnel across the region. The Agreement is in force among six states including Jamaica which will be the Headquarters of the Authority. Legislation is to be drafted to enact this Agreement into domestic law.
The free movement of persons requires that there be regional accreditation bodies which can assess qualifications for equivalency. Member States have begun this process by the conclusion on the Agreement on Accreditation for Education in Medical and other Health professions. This Agreement establishes an Authority which will be responsible for accrediting doctors and other health care personnel across the region. The Agreement is in force among six states including Jamaica which will be the Headquarters of the Authority. Legislation is to be drafted to enact this Agreement into domestic law.
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