Milford Williams, Gleaner Writer
Dr. John Edward Greene (right), assistant secretary-general of the CARICOM Secretariat, speaks with Audrey Hinchcliffe, president of Jamaica Empolyers' Federation (JEF), after the JEF's chief executive officer breakfast meeting at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston yesterday.
Tuesday, January 31-2006. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
DR. JOHN Greene, assistant secretary-general in the CARICOM secretariat, has identified the customs union, along with the free movement of skilled persons, capital and services, as the four pillars essential to the structure of the CARICOM Single Market (CSM).
He made the statement yesterday, as he addressed business leaders and entrepreneurs at the CEO Breakfast put on by the Jamaica Employers Federation (JEF) at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in St. Andrew. The function was arranged to address issues and priorities for the private sector in the CSM.
"We are trying to bring business leaders together so that they can have a better understanding of the CSM, its implications and opportunities," said Jacqueline Coke-Llyod, JEF president.
The address came on the heels of Monday's historic ratification of the CSM to which six countries, including Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago have become signatories. He said this was a work in progress, as the goal is to achieve not just a single market but also ultimately a single economy. Mr. Greene said member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) are in the process of getting economic and social issue in place before joining the CSM.
The customs union deals with regulations for the free movement of goods; break down of barriers, and anti-dumping regulations. This also takes into account the issue of regional standards, which ensures the flow of quality goods.
The free movement of skilled labour recognises university graduates; sports men and women, artists and musicians, and self employed persons. Associated with this are contingent rights, these give persons the right to establish business when they move.
"Before the CSM the thing that kept the region together was human and social development," said Green. He identified the collective response in the development of education and health as examples of sectors in which Caribbean states have pooled resources to move the region forward.
A regional accreditation body is necessary because it sets the standard for the free movement of labour, said Mr. Greene. However, the regional body will not work until there is a national body. Jamaica's accreditation body for tertiary education is the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ). He said that the Regional Accreditation Authority (RAA) would serve the CSM member sates in accrediting academic, technical and vocational areas. He expects it to launch in the very near future.
For the CSM to work, Caribbean capital markets must be integrated, said Mr. Greene. With regards to services, he said this takes into account providers of technological services, publishers, restaurateurs, and concert organisers.
He said that once the pillar structures were in place it was time to get the entire structure to move ahead. Greene identified government and competition policies as the two areas that must be addressed for the CSM to start moving ahead.
"There is a need for government procurement policies to be standard throughout the region," said Mr. Greene. He said company law of member states would have to change too.
