A GOVERNMENT MINISTER has questioned why more Barbadians are not heading up regional institutions and organizations.
Donville Inniss, Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business, said the absence of some of the 15-member bloc of countries from membership in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as their final court of appeal was a shame.
Speaking to BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY on the sidelines of the launch of the American Chamber of Commerce for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean last Thursday at the American ambassador’s residence, Inniss said: “It troubles me and troubles me immensely. The fact that as you look around the region today you can hardly find a Barbadian heading up any regional organization and that is a source of concern for me.”
According to Inniss, “Barbadian citizens can’t just be the maids, gardeners and drivers in regional organizations. We have the same levels of intellectual skills and commitments and therefore we as governments and ministers have to agitate for more Barbadians to be in senior and leadership positions in regional organizations.
“And let me make it clear: that goes for the Caribbean Development Bank too that is based here in Barbados.”
Inniss also pointed an accusing finger at regional governments, saying some of them are not pulling their weight when it comes to supporting the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
“I don’t know how committed to CARICOM the individual islands are, really. I also think there are just too many instances where some islands use and see CARICOM when it suits them and otherwise they want to go it alone,” he said.
“What I have found in terms of CARICOM and CARICOM institutions is that Barbados is one Caribbean island that continues to pay its dues to all regional institutions. There is a challenge in getting others to pay their fair share and yet we . . . don’t get that many benefits.”
As for the CCJ’s being the final court of appeal for regional jurisdictions, Inniss said: “How could so many former British colonies want to hold on to the Privy Council even though we have created a regional court of the highest order? My view is that other Caribbean islands need to stop the wishy-washy, childish behaviour and get on board with the CCJ. I really cry shame”.
As of 2011, Barbados, Guyana and Belize have made the CCJ their final court of appeal.
“The buildings are in Trinidad, they have the physical structures that have been put in place, you have the salaries that are being paid, the support staff that are in place, the gasoline being purchased for the cars, security being provided, the number of lawyers and clients who have to fly into Piarco [International] Airport and stay at hotels . . . through all of this, Trinidad has benefited tremendously without joining the CCJ and it makes me wonder how serious we are throughout this region about these matters,” lamented Inniss. (MM)
