PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad - Talks on the implementation of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) took on a more decisive dimension Monday with half of the agenda for the 10th Special Caricom Summit dominated by initiatives to be methodically pursued.

Immediately following the official opening ceremony, Caricom leaders moved into a lengthy plenary session with deliberations guided by a presentation from Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur who has lead responsibility for CSME arrangements.

A 10-point work programme on the agenda - a copy of which was obtained by the Observer - outlined the processes to be systematically pursued for operationalising the CSME before the end of 2005.

Discussions began with an assessment of the current status quo for 'CSME-readiness' followed by a listing of 'What remains to be done'.

High on that list are the removal of the restrictions on establishment of services and capital, and free movement of identified categories of skilled Caricom nationals.

Action is still to be taken for the removal of restrictions on capital and services which include implementation of a work plan that was agreed at the 2002 Caricom Summit, and amendments to Suriname's schedule as recommended by the Council on Trade and Economic Development at the March inter-sessional meeting in St Kitts.

Yet to be implemented in relation to free movement of skilled Caricom nationals are an audit of enacted legislation and acceptance of IDs for intra-regional travel as well as the introduction of much-publicised efforts to introduce a common Caricom passport.

Other issues on the CSME-specific agenda include a 'strategy' to complete the single market component of the CSME, as distinct from the common market, and financing of the CSME and a regionwide education programme on its benefits and implications when it comes on stream.

Those steps cover the establishment of a Regional Development Fund, with the guidance and assistance of the Caribbean Development Bank and a "visionary education programme" to be devised by the Barbados-located CSME Unit.

Additionally, the heads will contemplate the CSME's 'macro-economic framework' to embrace financial/capital market integration, monetary cooperation, fiscal harmonisation and co-operation.

They are still to deal with amendments to rules of the Caribbean Court of Justice, which is to be ceremonially launched in the first quarter of 2005; options for more effective governance of the Community's business; and consideration of candidatures from the Latin American and Caribbean region for a new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation and a Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States.