Second Report of the Joint Select Committee on Foreign Affairs on An
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE SECOND REPORT ON AN INQUIRY INTO REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND THE STRENGTHENING OF THE CARICOM INSTITUTION FOURTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT Committee Mandate The Joint Select Committee on Foreign Affairs is established by Standing Orders 105 and 95 of the House of Representatives and Senate respectfully and is mandated to consider from time to time and report whenever necessary on: (a) all matters relating to the foreign policy of the Government (including missions abroad) and examining the implications and likely effect on Trinidad and Tobago; (b) International treaties and agreements entered into by the Government on behalf of the State and advising the Parliament of their likely impact on Trinidad and Tobago; and (c) other matters relating to Foreign Affairs as may be referred to it by the House. Committee Membership Ms. Marlene Mc Donald, MP Chairman Ms. Paula Gopee-Scoon Vice-Chairman Mr. Avinash Singh Member Ms. Anita Haynes Member Mr. Terrence Deyalsingh, MP Member Ms. Shamfa Cudjoe, MP Member Mr. Rodney Charles, MP Member Dr. Maria Dillon- Remy1 Member Secretariat Support Mrs. Angelique Massiah Secretary Ms. Kimberly Mitchell Assistant Secretary Ms. Katharina Gokool Graduate Research Assistant Publication An electronic copy of this report can be found on the Parliament website using the following link: http://www.ttparliament.org/committee_business.php?mid=19&id=237&pid=28 Contact Information All correspondence should be addressed to: The Secretary Joint Select Committee on Foreign Affairs Office of the Parliament Levels G-7, Tower D The Port of Spain International Waterfront Centre 1A Wrightson Road Port of Spain Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Tel: (868) 624-7275 Ext 2288; 2317 Fax: (868) 625-4672 Email: [email protected] Date Presented in HOR: December 17, 2018 Date Presented in Senate: December 18, 2018 1 Dr. Maria Dillon-Remy was appointed to the Committee in lieu of Dr. Dhanayshar Mahabir with effect from November 27, 2018. Joint Select Committee on Foreign Affairs 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ................................................................................................................................................ 4 ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5 LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................................................................ 7 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 2. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................................................. 10 3. THE COMMITTEE .............................................................................................................................................................. 12 ESTABLISHMENT AND MANDATE ................................................................................................................................................................. 12 POWERS ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 CHAIRMANSHIP ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 MEETINGS .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 4. WORK OF THE COMMITTEE ........................................................................................................................................... 14 5. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................ 15 6. KEY ISSUES, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................... 17 I. CARICOM’S EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE REGIONAL INTEGRATION ............................................................................................................. 17 II. WHETHER REGIONAL INTEGRATION CAN FEASIBLY OCCUR, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON ANY SUCCESSES THUS FAR, AND ANY CHALLENGES ..... 22 III. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S STANCE ON REGIONAL INTEGRATION ............................................................................................................... 26 IV. CURRENT POLICIES THAT FACILITATE REGIONAL INTEGRATION ................................................................................................................. 37 V. EFFICIENCY AND CAPACITY OF CARICOM ........................................................................................................................................... 40 VI. CARICOM’S PLANS AND STRATEGIES FOR STRENGTHENING ITS ORGANS AND THE INSTITUTION AS A WHOLE .................................................. 46 VII. CHALLENGES, SUCCESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF CARICOM ........................................................................................................... 48 VIII. THE EXTENT TO WHICH CARICOM HAS IMPLEMENTED ANY RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE SUCCESSES OF SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS ............. 53 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................................................ 56 APPENDIX I .................................................................................................................................................................................. 57 MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS ................................................................................................................................................... 57 APPENDIX II ................................................................................................................................................................................ 71 VERBATIM NOTES ..................................................................................................................................................................... 71 APPENDIX III ............................................................................................................................................................................. 113 ENTITIES ATTENDANCE RECORD ....................................................................................................................................... 113 APPENDIX IV ............................................................................................................................................................................. 116 RECENT CONFERENCES/SEMINARS ON INTEGRATION................................................................................................. 116 APPENDIX V ............................................................................................................................................................................... 119 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CDF ........................................................................................... 119 APPENDIX VI ............................................................................................................................................................................. 121 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS TO CARICOM MARKETS ................................................... 121 Joint Select Committee on Foreign Affairs 3 MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE Ms. Marlene McDonald, MP Chairman Mrs. Paula Gopee-Scoon Dr. Maria Dillon-Remy Mr. Rodney Charles, MP Vice-Chairman Member Member 2 Ms. Anita Haynes Mrs. Shamfa Cudjoe, MP Mr. Terrence Deyalsingh, MP Member Member Member Mr. Avinash Singh Member 2 Ms. Anita Haynes in lieu of Mr. Rodger Samuel w.e.f. November 28, 2017 Joint Select Committee on Foreign Affairs 4 ABBREVIATIONS ACP African Caribbean Pacific CAHFSA Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency CAJO Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers CARICOM Caribbean Community CCJ Caribbean Court of Justice CDEMA Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency CDF Caribbean Development Fund CICC Chiefs of Immigration and Comptrollers of Customs and Excise CIP Citizenship by Investment Programme CONSLE Council for Ministers with responsibility for national security and law enforcement COTED Council for Trade and Economic Development CSMC CARICOM Security Management Committee CSME CARICOM Single Market and Economy CTS CARICOM Trade Support Programme CXC Caribbean Examination Council FDI Foreign Direct Investments FTAA Free Trade Area of the Americas GAP Good Agricultural Practices GMP Good Manufacturing Practices IIR Institute of International Relations IMPACS Implementation Agency for Crime and Security LIAT Leeward Islands Air Transport MALF Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries MoAGLA Ministry of Attorney General and Legal Affairs MoFCA Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs MoH Ministry of Health MoNS Ministry of National Security MoPD Ministry of Planning and Development MoTI Ministry of