Caricom in crisis

Report says regional body faces expiration without fundamental change

BY RICKEY SINGH Observer Caribbean correspondent

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Caribbean Community (Caricom) is in "crisis" and faces the possibility of being dismantled over the next few years if vital changes are not made to its administrative structure, according to a mandated assessment of the 15-member grouping.

The Observer has been reliably informed that the comprehensive document, submitted by a Project Management Team, has been circulated to Heads of Government ahead of their forthcoming Inter-Sessional Meeting scheduled for March 8-9 in Suriname.

Prior to that meeting, specific recommendations outlined in the report will be considered by a special session of the Community Council of Ministers — the second highest body in Caricom — scheduled to take place in the Surinamese capital, Paramaribo.

Hopes for arresting the crisis depend on a willingness on the part of Heads of Government to bite the bullet on the elusive issue of "fundamental changes" in the management structure and operational modalities of the Georgetown-based Caricom Secretariat.

An executive summary that focuses on "turning around Caricom" points to why delaying the establishment of a new administrative structure can no longer be an option.

The crisis, it said, "is sufficiently severe to put Caricom's very existence in question" and identified three reasons:

* Long-standing frustrations with its slow progress have continued to mount;

* A serious weakening in its structure and operations over a number of years; and

* Continuing economic retrenchment since the 2008 (international) financial crisis and the risk of a further downturn in 2012.

The Project Management Team feel that the Community Secretariat and related Caricom institutions "are not strong enough" to cope with any shortfall in funding.

Notwithstanding the "immediate dangers", the team of experts feel that without a "fundamental change", Caricom could expire slowly over the next few years as stakeholders begin to vote with their feet..."

Nevertheless, in seeking to bolster optimism instead of yielding to pessimism, the authors of the report feel that Caricom can yet surmount the prevailing crisis "as long as fundamental changes in its operation and structures are made — and made decisively and speedily".

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