Clarence E Pilgrim is an advocate for social justice and human rights.  As an educator and a senior officer in the Antigua & Barbuda civil service, he is active in many voluntary organisations. He has passionately promoted the Caribbean integration movement, and is an ardent supporter of enviornmental protection, and the careful use of our natural resources. Among his collection of many articles, he has written on the subject of the crucial need to develop alternative energy resources in the Caribbean Community. Mr Pilgrim also provides advice on various social policy issues.

When the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is fully implemented, there will be no need for CARICOM nationals to have permits or skills certificates to work in members states, as by then, every category of the workforce would be eligible to move freely. But exactly how are governments and citizens planning for this eventuality? Currently, managerial workers, artists, musicians, sportspersons, media workers, university graduates etc. can move freely without work permits. Others, who do not fall within the prescribed categories, have to acquire work permits. Relevant to this development is the common belief  that on the matter of social security, a CARICOM national must submit payments in the host country.

It is envisaged  that the amount of contributions will be added up for when the CARICOM citizen return to their home. But how does this development impact on the economic opportunities in the region? It is important to remember that whenever there is a perceived area for monetary gain and or self-improvement, then there will be a tendency for the diffusion of certain sectors of the population in that direction. With the openness which will result, there must be a disciplined approach to the management of "change" which will obviously take place within the Caribbean Community.

Central to "change" management lays the "change" problem. This problem simply stated is, how do we get a future state to be realized, from the present state which will be left behind, by utilizing a clearly defined and structured organized process to transform from one to the other.

This "change" problem is very large in dimensions since it focuses on governments, individuals, groups etc.To effectively guarantee the right of freedom of movement, also means that strong consideration must be given to the absorptive capacity of individual economic entities within CARICOM. It is quite clear that it is indeed the will of the leadership within CARICOM to advance this essential ingredient to the creation of a unified Caribbean society.

But careful planning and preparation is indeed the key to success. Understanding the nature of existing concerns will help to define what exists, determine ways to eliminate the differences and apply goals which a time relevant and results- oriented particularly in the present global dispensation where the tides of industry and commerce, touches the shores of the entire global village.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) as an international, multilateral organization, sets the rules for the global trading system and resolves disputes between its member states. The WTO headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland. Much to the hope of the world or its dismay the Doha Development Round of the world trade organisation negotiations aims to lower trade barriers, thus permitting free trade between countries of varying prosperity. Talks have been stalemated since June because of the lack of agreement mainly between the European Union (EU), United States and the major developing countries. The failure to forge an agreement on cuts to farm and industrial tariffs and reduction in trade distorting agricultural subsidies is extremely damaging to the agricultural sector in the Caribbean Community.

These were the sentiments of the Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM); "The inability of the . G6 meeting to arrive at consensus is a major setback, which has put World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations in jeopardy. The Caribbean is disappointed that G6 talks broke down, because the G6 failed in its responsibility to be a constructive influence at this crucial juncture in global trade talks. The fate of the Round rests heavily on agreement between the G6 on agricultural issues. The large and developed countries must make concessions, not the poor and less developed. It is incumbent on the US and the EU to adjust their negotiating positions accordingly, so that meaningful improvement can be achieved in market access for developing country exports."

It is quite clear that with the influence of these factors, the "fine print" for regional integration must be adjusted to these new realities. Despite the Caribbean 's commitment to achieving meaningful results from the Doha Agenda, preparations must be made for an alternative plan of action, if indeed the final outcome is not favorable to CARICOM's national interest.

The ability to handle change is one of the most important skills a leader can have. As member countries within CARICOM, our leadership must display charismatic and visionary attributes, which is necessary for us at a time that we need to educate our workforce to be more diverse, technologically equipped with a greater skills-mix.

Let us begin the work of finding other solutions from now. Preparation must be the word which guides our foreign policy objectives and ultimately our advancement into CSME.