BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - IN an effort to be more effective and efficient as well as to bring the islands involved closer, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is currently in the process of putting together a Five-year Strategic Plan.
Representing CARICOM Secretary General, Officer in charge of Trade and Economic Integration Desiree Field-Ridley and the Change Facilitation Team yesterday (Oct. 29) held discussions with media professionals from St. Kitts and Nevis.
The discussions were held in the Conference Room of the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Commerce at Bladen’s Commercial Development, and were primarily on issues affecting CARICOM’s effectiveness.
Field-Ridley explained that the Federation is the 13th country to be visited and explained the reason for CARICOM's presence.
She said they are seeking the various stakeholders' input on what is affecting CARICOM's progress and ideas on the measures that could be put in place to move forward as a unified body.
"This has come about because, as we are all aware, the questions have been raised with respect to effectiveness of this whole integration arrangement supporting the aims and objectives of our member states. And this has become particularly important at this stage when member states are challenged with high debt, low growth...fiscal problems."
She explained that while there is the decision made that the Secretariat needs to be restructured so as to be more efficient, effective and supportive, it has to be done in a context.
"So, Heads of Government have agreed that we need to put together a Five-year Strategic Plan," she added.
She further explained that the Five-year Strategic Plan would identify where CARICOM is going or must get to at a certain point in time, "and therefore the Secretariat could be restructured in that context to more effectively and efficiently deliver on what it needs to deliver".
She emphasised that CARICOM needs to prioritise the numerous issues with which it is being faced.
She also emphasised that the core of their visit is to get the stakeholders' perspective of where the region should be and how it is going to get there.
Field-Ridley noted that there is no debate on the need for integration as "it has been accepted that the only way small countries are going to survive and be successful in the global environment is to work together".
Highlighting some of the issues raised on their visit to some of the other islands, Fields-Ridley said the common concern is ease of travel from one CARICOM member state to the other.
She continued: "A number of areas have been identified for focus as we go forward. For example, agriculture...food and nutrition security; services; energy and ICT (Information and communications technology). Obviously, the environment in which we are functioning becomes very important, so addressing the issue of crime and security, environment and climate change, youth, health and education are of utmost importance."
Elaborating on services, Fields-Ridley said that it includes cultural services and tourism, noting that "we need to do something about our tourism" as the Caribbean is competing with the rest of the world.
Questions asked by the media included CARICOM's view of the "Fourth Estate" which Field-Ridley said is seen as a major stakeholder as they are the ones that keeps the public up to date on what is happening in the country, the region and internationally.
A concern on CARICOM's end was that there was not enough publicity on some of the good that came out of the integration so far, and that some the information passed on to the public do not highlight that it is a CARICOM initiative, which paints the picture that CARICOM is completely ineffective.
It was suggested that CARICOM form a greater bond with the media throughout the region to better ensure that the relevant information is disseminated and the public is not only made aware of what is happening but fully understand as well.
Field-Ridley said that there are two other countries to be visited before the exercise is completed.
"Out of this exercise what we are expecting to get, as we meet with the various stakeholders in St. Kitts and Nevis and in the other countries, is your perspective on where CARICOM should be and therefore how we are going to get where CARICOM should be," she explained.
"When we think of CARICOM, we are thinking more than trade, we are thinking about people and making it as people-centred as possible," Field-Ridley said.
