Dear Editor,
The decision by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning and three islands from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to form a new alliance is correct and the way forward.
Three countries saw that Caricom, the regional grouping of countries is not going anywhere. Caricom was formed some thirty-five years ago but to date it has failed to achieve anything. Even what is agreed on is not carried out. Caricom is talk and more talk but nothing tangible happens. Caricom countries agreed to and set up the Caribbean Court of Justice, but to date only two countries have accepted the court as their final court of appeal, namely, Guyana and Barbados. Then there is the Common External Tariff (CET) which is not working as it should. Caricom countries agreed on the free movement of skills within Caricom countries. However countries are rejecting nationals from certain countries. This is the case with Guyanese nationals in Barbados, as well as certain other Caricom countries.
Caricom countries are going ahead with Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) where there will be a single currency and one market where all duties on goods within the community will be eliminated, but the way things are going implementation will not be smooth.
There is more hope for the grouping with Patrick Manning since the new alliance could achieve more at a faster rate.
Yours faithfully,
Baldeo Persaud
