And while COVID is currently the urgent matter, CARICOM is still trying to make a Caribbean Single Market and Economy a successful venture. The Chair said that in these discussions, the Heads of Government are pushing for greater access:
Dr. Hon. Keith Rowley - Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago
"We did receive and agree to review the entire consultation and decision-making process at all levels in the effort to establish those effective strategy for effecting increased levels of implementation. Heads agreed with the responsibility for the CSME, Prime Minister Mottley and each state, heads of government mandated the council for finance and planning the cofa to meet within the next month to resolve outstanding issues and reach agreement with respect to CARICOM financial agreement, CFSE, the regional security market, the community investment policy and credit reporting. Heads urge the removal of tariff barriers to trade among member states and implementation of simplified administrative procedures for free movement of people. We also took a decision to prioritize establishment of signalized ICT space and advancing the digital economy. We set some deadlines for that, we commanded a report by end of March, such a report to be so detailed as to allow us to make some decisions after deliberation at our meeting in July which is schedule to take place in Antiga and the council for trade and economic development quoted an ICT had been tasked with advancing the requisite actions. So we have also received a report in the ACT commission on the economy and they adopted that final report on the CARICOM commission on economy, the report contain the prologue which set out a 12 point action plan in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic."
A late evening press release from the Government of Belize notes that next year, the CARICOM Chairmanship will rotate back to Belize. That means that Prime Minister Briceno will hold the chairmanship, just like his predecessor did 5 years ago.
That government press release says, quote, "The CARICOM heads deliberated on the Framework for a Joint Tourism Policy and provided direction in preparation for the expected rebound in travel in the coming months….
Prime Minister Briceño updated his colleagueson the recent developments between Belize and Guatemala. CARICOM heads re-emphasized their steadfast support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of Belize.
Belize is scheduled to take up the chairmanship on January 1, 2022."
