THERE HAS LONG been scepticism about the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), given the region’s failure to decisively deal with a number of issues. The harsh economic realities impacting almost every member of this group will only add to the cynicism if tangible achievements are not realised.
That is why when the leaders from the 15 member states stage their annual Heads of Government meeting in Antigua and Barbuda from tomorrow, the four-day meeting must produce concrete results.
For Barbados, a big issue will be on the sidelines of the conference: the matter of regional air transportation and, more precisely, LIAT. Prime Minister Freundel Stuart must use the opportunity not just to continue discussions but to indicate to his colleagues from Antigua, St Vincent and Dominica that changes must come to the regional airline.
Barbados must not simply fund the operations of this airline while not seeing better results for the travelling public and more so the Barbados economy.
The Antiguans may not want to hear it, but Mr Stuart has no option but to lay bare the harsh realities and requirements. Shifting more of LIAT’s operations to Barbados may be the start of the solution to its problems which must not rule out privatisation.
LIAT is critical to intra-regional travel, particularly in the southern Caribbean, but it needs to be affordable and to reach more destinations, given the demands and expectations of the Caribbean public. The airline, however, cannot be seen as an essential social service.
The existing LIAT business model has not inspired confidence among other Caribbean governments, so they have not invested in the airline. This situation is particularly worrisome in relation to the Eastern Caribbean countries, which benefit from tourist arrivals, personal and business travel, taxation and direct jobs because of LIAT. The airline’s collapse would hurt them. Something has to be changed.
Then there is the matter of CLICO and British American Insurance Company. This will not be an agenda item for the Heads of Government but is of critical importance to the thousands of suffering policyholders. Too many people in Barbados and across the member countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States are still uncertain and worried about their funds, and a clear statement ought to be made as to when there will be total resolution of the issue relating to the failed insurance companies.
The people of the Caribbean want to see and hear of things that will benefit them, not of esoteric issues that matter to politicians and technocrats. CARICOM leaders must walk away from St John’s knowing that they have done the people’s business.
