Caribbean Business Council supports need for more private sector, government cooperation
|
| Published on Saturday, July 7, 2007 |
Email To Friend Print Version |
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): The Caribbean Business Council (CBC) during a meeting with CARICOM Heads at the 28th CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Barbados supported the need for the private sector and governments of the Caribbean to have more cooperation.
“They (private sector) are quick to speak about our governance like Parliamentary process but when we talk about cooperative governance they go quiet because this means paying tax and complying with security regulations… but I am pleased that the leadership of the Caribbean Business Council has recognised the need for this type of cooperation,” Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Friday at a press conference.
Jagdeo pointed out that he now wants both the media and government of Guyana to focus more on cooperative governance.
CBC members and CARICOM Heads also recognise the need for a more democratic private sector in the region.
“The leadership has a very realistic view of the private sector in the region. Prime Minister Owen Arthur specifically spoke about democracy in the private sector. The many private sectors don’t have strong credentials, they are often hijacked by special interest in many countries. I hope that in Guyana this issue will be followed up,” Jagdeo said.
The issue of free movement of CARICOM nationals was discussed extensively and the Heads of Government agreed to monitor the free movement of skills of nationals in a more logistical manner and that each territory will provide statistics on the number of skills certificates issued as against the number accepted as well as those rejected. Reasons for rejections should also be forthcoming.
The objective of this measure will be to identify the trend regarding the free movement of skilled CARICOM nationals within the community. The CARICOM leaders have also agreed to look at reducing the powers of immigration officials.
The Heads of Government in an effort to achieve the goal of the regional integration process to enhance the well-being of all the Caribbean people agreed on several initiatives at the Conference.
Crime and security, health, education, agriculture, human and social development, telecommunications, and transportation were some of the focus areas. | | | | Reads : 161 | | | |
|
|
