The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has joined the CARICOM Private Sector Organization (CPSO).
The CPSO, which was established under the St. Ann’s Declaration on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), is a service organization that aims to mobilize and advance private sector participation in CARICOM. Its main objectives are to support the complete implementation of the CSME and advance private sector priorities in the Caribbean community.
Today, Junior Vice President of the Chamber, Kester Hutson met with a delegation from the CPSO, which included its Technical Director, Dr. Patrick Antoine, and Advisor to the Technical Director, Neville Bissember. A release from the GCCI said that the introductory meeting saw Hutson apprising the representatives of the Chamber’s mandate and various roles in private sector development and representation locally, meanwhile, the two representatives gave an overview of the CPSO, and its expectations from the GCCI.
Following the introduction, both parties held talks on critical areas which included achieving the visions of the CSME, the influence of the private sector and its main priorities, the release added.
CPSO sparked a furore here in January this year when a leaked email from one of its executives suggested that Guyana’s Local Content Act could contravene the CARICOM-founding Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Since then, the CPSO has reached out to Guyana Government and the business community to soothe concerns. Questions remain however as to whether the Act could become the subject of a challenge before the Caribbean Court of Justice.