By Eileen Cox
Caricom Day was celebrated on Monday, July 7. A supplement appeared in the press giving details of Caricom’s aims and objectives and other information that consumers should keep in mind. I was offended to see that the flags of the member states were not correctly displayed.
In the case of Guyana, the longer side should be horizontal with the arrowhead pointing to the right, but it was portrayed pointing upwards. All flags were similarly treated. The days for the slogan, ‘This is Guyana anything goes’ have gone. Let us be the standard bearers and to the best of our ability conform to the conventions.
Caricom aims at the eventual integration of its members and economies, and the creation of a common market. From its inception, the community has concentrated on the promotion of the integration of the economies of member states, coordinating the foreign policies of the independent member states and in functional cooperation, especially in relation to various areas of social and human endeavour.
The objectives of Caricom are listed as:
(a) Improved standards of living and of work
(b) Full employment of labour and other factors of production
(c) Accelerated, co-ordinated and sustained economic development and convergence
(d) Expansion of trade and economic relations with third states
(e) Enhanced levels of international competitiveness
(f) Organisation for increased production and productivity
(g) The achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage and effectiveness of member states in dealing with third states, groups of states and entities of any description;
(h) Enhanced co-ordination of Member States, foreign and (“foreign”) economic policies
(i) Enhanced functional co-operation, including – more efficient operation of common services and activities for the benefit of its people; accelerated promotion of greater understanding among its peoples and the advancement of their social, cultural and technological development; intensified activities in areas such as health, education, transportation, telecommunication.
