Caricom iew March 2014 CARICOM V RETURN to Chaguaramas PAGE 1 ...the Future of CARICOM PAGE 13 CONTENTS PAGE RETURN to REMEMBER THE REGIONAL INTEGRATION Chaguaramas Live Up To Vision of Process and the future of CARICOM PAGE 1 Forefathers PAGE 12 PAGE 6 RE-DEDICATION TO HISTORY, IMPORTANCE AND The Principles of the FOURTH OF JULY DEVELOPMENT OF Treaty of Chaguaramas Sanctified In Regional History TRADE STATISTICS PAGE 3 PAGE 8 IN THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) PERSIST, RALLY ON OUR COURSE RECOMMIT OURSELVES PAGE 25 PAGE 4 to Integrative Process PAGE 10 FROM COLGRAIN To Turkeyen PAGE 31 CARICOM VIEW www.CARICOM.ORG RETURN to Chaguaramas Forty years to the ey travelled by sea and road Persad-Bissessar, Heads of Government of Barbados, date after the from Port-of-Spain on 4 July Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, 2013, to the northwestern respectively, recommitted to the integration founding Treaty of T peninsula area of Chaguaramas, to movement and to fulfilling the vision of the founding the integration the same building where, four decades fathers. ey later joined the other Heads of movement was ago, the Community’s founding fathers - Government attending the irty-Fourth Meeting of the Hon. Errol Barrow, Prime Minister of the Conference of Heads of Government to affix their signed, Heads of Barbados, the Hon. Michael Manley, signatures to a commemorative document. Government Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon. Eric journeyed to Williams, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Prime Minister Stuart, who led the quartet in brief Tobago, and the Hon. Forbes Burnham, remarks, retraced the steps to the establishment of Chaguaramas, to Prime Minister of Guyana - signed the the Community, and acknowledged that commemorate Treaty of Chaguaramas, bringing into Chaguaramas was indelibly imprinted on CARICOM’s and celebrate at being the Caribbean Community and history. Common Market. e Community, he said, was positioned between the cradle of the hope and history. While history could not be Caribbean Drum rolls and fanfares befitting such an reversed, it was the duty of current torchbearers to Community historic occasion, heralded the arrival of give flesh to the hope, to work closely together to the Heads of Government of CARICOM at consolidate our independence. Progress, he CARICOM. the beautifully decorated Chaguaramas underlined, was not going to happen by accident, but Convention Centre to celebrate the by conscious decision. Community. ere, the Hon. Freundel Stuart, the Most Hon Portia Punctuating her remarks with quotations from the Simpson-Miller, His Excellency Donald founding fathers, Prime Minister Simpson-Miller Ramotar, and the Hon. Kamla cautioned the Community to reacquaint itself with the context that informed the creation of CARICOM 1 CARICOM VIEW A publication of the Caribbean Community which she said was more than an of the four founding Prime Ministers, e integration movement was at an organization. It represented, she said, the President Ramotar pointed out that the important juncture of the evolution of the vision and aspiration of the founding need for integration was perhaps greater Community where “we either give up” or fathers for a strong integrated region to now than when the Treaty was signed 40 pursue the path of unity. e challenge, provide the best prospects for social and years ago. she told the Chaguaramas gathering, was economic development. not to be indecisive; not to turn around, “We either give up” or pursue the not to delay, but to persist towards the She said that the Community needed to path of unity. redirection of our destiny. be serious in its introspection in the ever-changing, dynamic international THE PRIME MINISTER e programme was interspersed with community, and had to have continuous OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, cultural presentations from Barbados, evaluation and renewal. THE HONOURABLE Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and KAMLA PERSAD-BISSESSAR, SC Tobago, following the remarks by the For President Ramotar, the needs of the respective Heads of Government. In word, people of the Caribbean were paramount. In her remarks, Prime Minister song, dance, drama and art, the culture of “As leaders, we must ask ourselves Persad-Bissessar lauded the vision of the the Community was showcased for the whether the people of the region have founding fathers and called for a positive appreciative gathering at the benefitted fully from this process,” he reflection, and incarnation of the spirit Chaguaramas Convention Centre. said. In praising the courage and foresight and intention of their vision. Heads of Government at the Rededication Ceremony at the Chaguramas Convention Centre, Chaguaramas on 4 July 2013. 2 CARICOM VIEW www.CARICOM.ORG RE-DEDICATION TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE TREATY OF CHAGUARAMAS on the Occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) On the occasion of the fortieth social development in securing increased anniversary of the establish- global competitiveness for our respective ment of the Caribbean Commu- Member States and to secure a higher nityO (CARICOM), we, the Heads of State standard of living for all our peoples; and Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM): Undertake to recalibrate and fully implement the goals and objectives of our Remain dedicated to the ideals of our Community consistent with the best founders for the integration of our interests of the Community, including its economies and our people of the Carib- people; bean Region; Pledge to strengthen existing policies and Recognise the invaluable contributions embark on new initiatives aimed at made by CARICOM nationals over the secunng our common interests regionally years in numerous areas including , and internationally; education, health, security, Foreign Policy, Sports, Arts, Literature and Cultural Development, among others; In witness thereof, we have affixed our Are resolute in our determination to signatures: further enhance our tradition for united action as we strive to propel our Commu- 4th July 2013 nity to achieve sustained economic and Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago TREATY SIGNED 3 CARICOM VIEW A publication of the Caribbean Community Persist, rally on our course The Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, at Commemorative Event, Chaguaramas Convention Centre, Chaguaramas, July 4, 2013 t is with immense pleasure and a at sense of determination and deep sense of Caribbean patriotism consciousness continues to drive our that I welcome my sisters and Caribbean Community today, which is I brothers of the region to this most characterised by forty years of dialogue historic occasion. and unity. Forty (40) years ago on this day, the However, after forty years, we find founding fathers of the region executed ourselves at an important juncture in the what is perhaps, the most significant evolution of our Caribbean Region. accord that would govern the relationship We must commit to either go forward of the nation-states which comprise the together or to succumb to the negativity Caribbean Community. and unconstructiveness of the naysayers who declare CARICOM to be irrelevant. ere can be no doubt that the historic signing of July 4th 1973, was preceded by I say we cannot, must not, let perish the long and meticulous study, debate and vision and hopes of our great leaders who articulation towards the final product; the stood right here 40 years ago, firm in the Treaty of Chaguaramas. belief that it was only through collective effort that the ambitions of the peoples of ere is no doubt that the framers of that the Caribbean could be materialised. celebrated Treaty would have toiled to ensure that it reflected the composite is morning through sound and views of the many men, women, children movement; art and drama, we showcase and governments who helped mould and our “Caribbean-ness”, testimony to our crystallise its formulation. creativity and innovation and our unbridled ability to rise above any And whilst there is never an Agreement challenge we may have to face. that can represent the aims, ambitions and aspirations of a people with exacti- Let this re-enactment today be not just a tude, we can safely say that forty years physical dramatization of our past, but a ago our political forefathers were on the tangible rededication to the future. right track. Let today be a day for positive reflection. In the very Preamble to that momentous declaration, the signatories pledged, inter Let it be the reincarnation of the spirit alia, to be “Determined to consolidate and and intendment of the Charter of July strengthen the bonds which have 4th 1973. historically existed amongst their peoples”....and to be “Conscious that Let today become our moment for new these objectives can most rapidly be resolve. attained by the optimum utilisation of available human and natural resources of Let it be the moment for rejuvenated the Region”. determination and consciousness; watchwords so passionately inscribed in 4 CARICOM VIEW www.CARICOM.ORG the Preamble to the Caribbean’s most famous document. e task before us is clear. Our challenge is not to be indecisive, not to hesitate, not to reverse, not to turn around. Our challenge is not to delay and loiter over hardship, adversity or difficulty, but to persist and to rally on our course towards the realisation of the destiny that our forefathers have set for us. I thank you. PAUL KEENS DOUGLAS AT CHAGUARAMAS This morning through sound and movement; art and drama, we showcase our “Caribbean-ness”, testimony to our creativity and innovation and our unbridled ability to rise above any challenge we may have to face. The Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago JAMAICAN DANCERS AT CHAGUARAMAS 5 CARICOM VIEW A publication of the Caribbean Community Remember live up to Among the many things we the people of for the benefit of all our peoples. the Caribbean have in common is the warm and welcoming Caribbean Sea.