BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – LAST week’s meeting of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) has been heralded as “progressive and critical” as the organization addressed the way forward for the short and long terms.
The meeting was held at the Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre in Port of Spain last Thursday and Friday (Feb. 4-5) and brought together executives and top officials from various private sector organizations across the region.
In an interview with SKNVibes, President Carol Evelyn reported that the meeting, which was the first time he chaired as President of the organization, was well-attended and attendees were able to focus on members’ concerns.
Evelyn informed that although the organization is seen as the “leading private sector organization”, it has had a number of financial challenges within the past few years. A call was therefore made for a full assessment and restructuring of the organization to allow better functioning and contribution to its members.
“We have put a committee in place to develop a business plan to see how we can restructure CAIC to better service our membership. That committee will work to develop a business plan for the organization in the next five years and another for the next 10 years,” Evelyn told this media house following his return from Trinidad.
Also high on the CAIC’s agenda was the best approach to transitioning into the CARICOM-mandated Caribbean Business Council (CBC). Evelyn noted that this issue was the “biggest discussion”, as the executives debated whether the CBC would replace the CAIC or if the CAIC would remain a separate entity.
The CAIC is already recognized at the CARICOM level, but Evelyn explained that according to the draft constitution of the CBC, the move is intended to make CARICOM relations with the private sector much easier.
“We will address our concerns as a sector and then advance them to the CBC. We want CAIC to have its voice. In the draft constitution of the CBC, it will replace the CAIC after three years. For the CAIC we would have lost our powers and that is what we do not want,” Evelyn continued.
Although no report has been made by the special committee established to develop a CAIC business plan, Evelyn stated that the organization must prepare its membership to play a “leading role” in the restoration of Haiti.
He said, “We have committed to communicate with the private sector in Haiti to get information as to what the needs of the people are. As it relates to the restructuring of Haiti, the CAIC must move quickly ahead to ensure that the private sector, especially the construction sector, plays a key role.”
