S. Plummer - Social Integration in the Caribbean Community

8/9/2019 S. Plummer - Social Integration in the Caribbean Community

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Sistema Econmico

Latinoamericano y del Caribe

Latin American and Caribbean

Economic SystemSistema Econmico

Latino-Americano e do Caribe

Systme Economique

Latinoamricain et Cariben

Social Integration in the Caribbean

Community

Sandra PlummerDeputy Programme Manager

Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM)


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Copyright SELA, July 2008. All rights reserved.

Printed in the Permanent Secretariat of SELA, Caracas, Venezuela.


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CARICOM SOCIAL INTEGRATION INTHE CARIBBEAN

COMMUNITYPanel Presentation at

II Regional Meeting on Social Dimensionof Integration in Latin America and

The Caribbeanby

Sandra PlummerCaribbean Community SecretariatCaracas,Venezuela

July 18 ,2008


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CARICOM FORMAT OF PRESENTATION

BACKGROUND OF THE

CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY

(CARICOM)

BACKGROUND ON THE

CARIBBEAN SINGLE MARKET AND

ECONOMY (CSME)

REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN

SOCIAL AREAS: HEALTH,

EDUCATION , EMPLOYMENT AND

HOUSING

POSSIBLE AREAS OF CARICOM-LACO-OPERATION


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CARICOM

Longstanding Vision of Regional

Cooperation and IntegrationRegional Cricket Team to England1928

Caribbean Free Trade Area (CARIFTA)1968

Political Federation (-1962)1958

Regional University - UCWI1948

Caribbean Community and Common Market1973

Decision to establish the CSME1989

Entry into force of the Revised Treaty2006


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CARICOM

Member States of the

Caribbean Community

Antigua & Barbuda

Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Dominica

Grenada

Guyana Haiti

Jamaica

Montserrat

Saint Kitts & Nevis

Saint Lucia

St Vincent and theGrenadines

Suriname Trinidad and

Tobago


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Main Pillars of the Community

1EconomicIntegration

(includingtheCS

ME)

2Functional and

SocialCoopera

tion3Foreign PolicyCoordination

With a security underpinning


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CARICOM

Governance and Decision Making

StructureThe principal Organs of the Community

(a) the Conference of Heads of Government(b) the Community Council of Ministers

Principal Organs assisted by the following Organs:

(a) The Council for Finance and Planning

(b) The Council for Trade and Economic Development

(c) The Council for Foreign and Community Relations

(d) The Council for Human and Social Development(e) The Council for National Security and Law Enforcement

and serviced by

The CARICOM Secretariat, headed by the Chief ExecutiveOfficer (CEO) of the Community, the Secretary General


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CARICOMThe CSME

A single enlargedeconomic space

Macro-

economica

nd

sectoralpol

icy

coordin

ation

Functional

cooperation

Free movementof goods, services,capital, technology,

labour

Commonexternaltrade policy

Non- discriminatoryaccess to the regionsresources & marketsfor CARICOM

nationals

The Single Market


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CARICOM

Building, out of

separate national

economies, a

single, integrated,

globallycompetitive,

modern market

economy within aneconomic space

called the CSME

CSME - The Context

In deciding to establishthe CARICOM Single

Market and Economy(CSME), The Heads ofGovernment noted the

need to work expeditiouslytogether to deepen theintegration process andstrengthen the Caribbean

Community in all of itsdimensions to respond tothe challenges andopportunities presented bythe global economy


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CARICOM

The CSME

Full employment of labourand other factors ofproduction

Improved standards ofliving and work

Accelerated. co-ordinatedand sustained economic

development

Increased economicleverage and effectivenessvis a vis other states,groups of states andentities

Expected OutcomesGreater opportunities foremployment, investment,production and trade forCaribbean people

Competitive products ofbetter quality and prices

Improved services provided

by enterprises andindividuals

Greater opportunity for travelfor nationals to study and

work in CARICOM countries

Framework


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CARICOM

The Single Market

Single

MarketPolicyFramework

is in place

Regimes

exist for :

Free intra-CARICOM movement ofgoods

Intra-CARICOM trade accounts for nearly20% of merchandise exports and 12%of merchandise imports

Free intra-CARICOM trade inservices

Right of establishment

Access to land

Free movement of capital and skills


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CARICOM

The CSME

facilitates acollectiveapproach to

traderelations

with thirdcountries

New marketopportunities

Collectivenegotiation oftrade rules andagreements

Negotiation to

attract newinvestment and

joint ventures

Collective defenseof economicinterests in theglobalmarketplace


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CARICOM

LegalArchitecture

of the CSME

The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas

Inter-governmental Agreements

Implementation of harmonisedlaws, regulations, orders and rules

Dispute Settlement Regime

Enforcement under DomesticLaw

Enforcement under theCaribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)


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January 2006 - The CSM becameoperational; six Member Statessigned the Agreement

January 2006 - The CSM becameoperational; six Member Statessigned the Agreement

January 2006 - Revised Treaty ofChaguaramas entered into force throughratification by twelve Member States

January 2006 - Revised Treaty ofChaguaramas entered into force throughratification by twelve Member States

- The Bahamas is not a part of the CSM

- Haiti is not yet a member of the CSM- Montserrat is awaiting entrustment

- The Bahamas is not a part of the CSM- Haiti is not yet a member of the CSM- Montserrat is awaiting entrustment

July 2006 Six other Member Statessigned the Agreement

July 2006 Six other Member Statessigned the Agreement


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CARICOM

Specialised Institutions and

Structures

CARICOM Development Fund and Development Agency

Regional Accreditation Agency for Education and Training

Competition Commission

Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality

Caribbean Court of Justice

Caribbean Agriculture Health and Food Safety Agency

Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery


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CARICOM

CSME

The CSME - providing a platformand enabling environment for amore effective interface with the

global economy


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CARICOMCARICOM Development Fund

To promote cohesion and to counter

polarization discrepancies and anti-

convergence tendencies and asymmetries

To foster and support economictransformation to enhance competitivenessin the global economy

To compensate for the adverse effects of tradedistortion and economic dislocation arising

during intra-CARICOM integration process


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CARICOM

CARICOM Development Fund (2)

Initial capitalisation of US 250M

US$120M to be provided by Member StatesUS$130M to be raised from developmentpartners

Expected to be operational by mid 2007

Assistance in the form of loans, grantsand interest subsidy grants


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CARICOM Regional Development Agency

Operationalisation of the CARICOM Development Fundto be complemented with the establishment of aRegional Development Agency (RDA)

Purpose: - to identify and mobilise technical assistance,to assist disadvantaged countries, regions and sectors

towards becoming economically viable and competitive byappropriate interventions of a transitional or temporary

nature

Agency expected to become operational within the next

year

Proposals for the establishment of the Agencycurrently being elaborated


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CARICOM Challenges

Need to improve standard of living

Significant geopolitical and geo-strategic shifts

Imperative of optimising development potential of the Region

Need for Improved management of the regional environment

Crime and security, disaster management


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CARICOM The Human Face of the CSME

The CSME is anchored inthe skills, abilities, attitudes,perceptions, motivationsand expectations of people

The extent to which theprovisions translate intoreal opportunitiesdepends on the adequatedevelopment of ourHuman Resources

An informed publicwhich understandsand supports the

CSME andparticipates activelyin the CSME

Stronger sense ofCommunity andgreater social

cohesion

Key Desired Outputs


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CARICOMHuman Resource Development

HRD - An iterativeprocess involving

Development ofhuman capital

Efficient use ofhuman capital

Preparation forinvolvement inlife of theCommunity at alllevels

Elements of the Regional Agenda

Refocusing and harmonisationof systems for education andtraining at all levels

Preparation for the InformationSociety

Youth empowerment

Addressing key health andlifestyle issues NCDs, HIV/AIDS

Development of sense ofCaribbean identity

Preparation for citizenship of the

region


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CARICOM HEALTH

NASSAU DECLARATION

CARIBBEAN COOPERATION

IN HEALTH INITIATIVE

DECLARATION OF PORT-OF-

SPAIN ON NCDS


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CARICOM

Addressing Social Dimensionsof Integration Education and

Employment

Some Major Issues

Reorienting education systems to prepare studentsfor a changing workplace and world of work

Gender issues in education and employment

Re-tooling of existing workforce/ guaranteeingemployability

Qualification Frameworks /portability ofQualifications in the integrated labour market


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CARICOM EDUCATION

CARIBBEAN EXAMINATIONS

HEALTH AND FAMILY LIFE

EDUCATION

REGIONAL ACCREDITATION

-TECHNICAL VOCATIONALQUALIFICATIONS-REGIONAL EXAMINATIONS FORNURSES AND PHYSICIANS


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CARICOMEMPLOYMENT:

Social Floor & The CSME Member States should adhere to the same minimum

standards to ensure that

CARICOM Nationals who move for employmentpurposes moving are not disadvantaged

there is no unfair competition in the CSME, be itamong businesses or for investment.

Since 1995 the Caribbean Community adopted aDeclaration on Labour and Industrial RelationsPrinciples,

Workers Rights are highlighted in the Charter of CivilSociety, however, no decision was taken to make theserights mandatory.


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CARICOM

HOUSING NOT MUCH DONE ON REGIONAL LEVEL

COUNTRIES HAVE INDIVIDUAL HOUSING SCHEMES

MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THIS AREA


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CARICOMPOSSIBLE AREAS FOR INTRA-REGIONAL

COLLABORATION

INFORMATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OFMECHANISMS WHICH SUPPORT REGIONAL

INTEGRATIONe.g. Free Movement, Regional Framework forChildren, CCH Initiative

EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ONCHILDREN

SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF TRADE AGREEMENTS E.GTRADE AND HEALTH

( utilising the flexibilities in WTO Agreements whichaddress public health )


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Thank You

CARICOM

Documents

S. Plummer - Social Integration in the Caribbean Community