Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Major obstacles to OECS joining single market cleared, says Manning

Thursday, June 15, 2006

by: Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Issues surrounding the Regional Development Fund (RDF) are largely resolved, clearing the way for OECS member states to join the CARICOM Single Market (CSM) at the end of June, according to Trinidad’s Prime Minister, Patrick Manning.

Manning told journalists in Suriname, “Three days ago there was a meeting in Barbados where we were able to largely resolve the issue of the operationalisation of the Regional Development Fund, which OECS countries saw as a very critical issue and to some a critical prerequisite for their participation in the CARICOM Single Market.”

In Suriname, Manning, who is the current Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), held discussions with President Ronald Venetiaan about pressing issues such as crime and security in the region currently on the table of CARICOM.

Earlier the same day he met Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo in Georgetown as part of his mission to five Member States. Guyana was the first of the five countries to be visited by Prime Minister Manning, whose term as Chairman of CARICOM, ends June 30.

The Prime Minister is visiting other Heads of Government to bring them up-to-date on initiatives he pursued during his tenure. On his visits Manning is being accompanied by CARICOM Secretary-General Edwin Carrington and other CARICOM officials. The mission also includes visits to Barbados, Belize and Jamaica on Friday, June 16.

Responding to a question from Caribbean Net News, Manning noted that Suriname has been able to negotiate a reduction on its own contribution to the regional fund.

“The fact to the matter is, it (the RDF issue) has been resolved. We just have to clear two other countries about their own contribution and therefore we think that fund is on the way,” said Manning.

The trade and development fund was set up by Trinidad and Tobago with an initial pledge to contribute US$20 million to the RDF that ultimately should be in the amount of US$120 million.

The CARICOM chairman further noted that, following the meeting in Barbados, an additional US$9.6 million for the trade fund was secured.

In respect of OECS there is also the issue of aliens’ landholding which is a particular concern for some of these countries, since some of them don’t have income tax and value added tax, said Manning. “Therefore there was some reservation. But we are optimistic that these issues such as they exist will be brought to a successful conclusion to facilitate that all the countries are accessing the single market by the end of June.”

Concerns were raised regarding the readiness of the East Caribbean CARICOM member states, especially Grenada, which suffered the brunt of two major hurricanes and is still struggling with the aftermath of these natural disasters.

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