Regional consultants to visit Montserrat

Wednesday, January 14, 2004

BRADES, Montserrat (GIU): The government of Montserrat is playing host this week to three sets of regional consultants in relation to the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), according to Claudia Skerritt, Regional Affairs Officer in the Office of the Chief Minister.

The consultants are Customs and Tariff specialist Norris Breedy from the Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat, McHale Andrew (Fiscal Specialist), Dr Noel Watson (Services Consultant) and two researchers.

Mrs. Skerritt told the GIU Tuesday that the regional experts are visiting the island to advance Montserrat's time table for the removal of restrictions related to the establishment of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.

Montserrat's derogation for services will expire in February 2004.

The Regional Affairs Officer also announced that the visiting specialists will also be looking at a gradual phasing in of the Common External Tariff (CET) in a way that it will not impact negatively on government revenue.

The consultants, who will be on island for two weeks according to Mrs Skerritt, are working directly with the various stakeholders in both the public and private sectors.

Caricom officials have said on numerous occasions that they are mindful of Montserrat's special circumstances given all the difficulties flowing from the eruption of the island's Soufriere Hills volcano.

Montserrat is a founding member of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and is the only non-independent country enjoying the status of full membership. 

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