Caricom’s reconstituted Inter- governmental Task Force (IGTF) has commenced deliberations on the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas with the aim of bridging existing gaps within the region’s founding instrument, particularly in the area of security.
Security, which has already been adopted as a fourth pillar of the community by regional leaders, sits atop the agenda of the task force which is meeting in Georgetown for three days. The task force will also zero in on critical issues within the region as it re-examines the Revised Treaty.
Caricom Secretary-General and Chair of the task force, Edwin Carrington said yesterday that when the work is completed it would have far reaching implications for the community. He noted that the task force needs to examine the treaty with a view to making it more relevant to the community’s needs, more responsive to the demands of stakeholders, and more adaptable to the evolution of the regional integration project.
Carrington underscored that the circumstances of today are very different from those of 2001, when the Revised Treaty was signed, and according to him there are a number of subject areas and tasks that readily present themselves as ripe for consideration by the reconstituted IGTF. The first IGTF was convened in 1993, and pursued its mandate up until 2001, producing a series of Protocols which were eventually integrated to become the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Speaking on the area of security, he said, there is need for inclusion within the Revised Treaty, of provisions on security and the regional security architecture. He said too that a Protocol to give effect to the decision of Heads of Government to make Security Co-operation the fourth pillar of the Community has been signed by twelve Member States and ratified by one. “With ratification by the other eleven signatories, the Protocol would enter into force and formally become part of the Revised Treaty. Further, additional insertions into the Revised Treaty as well as amendments to existing provisions would be required to fully incorporate Security as the Fourth Pillar”, he added.
Other areas which Carrington identified as ripe for consideration include the need for the provision of a coherent Community social policy and issues dealing with the implications of “the psychology of integration and development”. He suggested among other things, a comparative analysis of the European model of integration, exploring that model’s differences from regional arrangements.
Further, he mentioned areas such as electronic commerce; government procurement; treatment of goods produced in free zones and similar jurisdictions; free circulation of goods in the CSME; and rights contingent on establishment, provision of services and movement of capital in the Community.
In addition, he said, other questions arise such as the proper place to include within an amended Revised Treaty, references to the four pillars of the integration movement. “And what do we do about the much touted phrase “a community of sovereign States” as enshrined in the Rose Hall Declaration. Do we make reference to it in the preamble?” he asked.
Carrington noted that the IGTF would need to elaborate on a calendar and work programme, and he also suggested the establishment of a working group to move the efforts forward. He said that the working group would be comprised of participants from the Secretariat, with the support of regional institutions.
