IN THIS column last week I focused on the disturbing public silence of Caribbean Community heads of government, as well as leaders of the region’s private sector, on the negative consequences for our 15-member regional economic integration movement relating to Britain’s then scheduled referendum to secede from the European Union (EU).
The so-called Brexit dilemma is now a very disturbing reality, resulting from a mere four per cent majority vote in favour of severance from the EU.
CARICOM government leaders, as well as representative private sector organisations and trade unions, are now faced with the harsh implications should the UK government of Prime Minister David Cameron opt to engage the British parliament’s consideration of the outcome of the referendum which, experts point out, is not now a legally binding requirement.
Fears of heightened social and economic dislocations resulting from Britain’s disrupted relations with the EU by the outcome of the referendum, as well as our own region’s vital “partnership” accords with the EU, will now be the primary focus of the coming annual CARICOM Heads of Government Conference scheduled to get under way in Guyana next Monday.
This would require more than cosmetic adjustments to their traditional work agenda for an annual summit in favour of one which could facilitate quality participation by generally recognised technocrats/advisers and officials from both the public and private sectors to arrive at practical decisions for action in dealing separately with the British government and the EU.
Fixing referendum
In this context, it’s relevant to observe that, like other EU partners, CARICOM member countries had entered into individual Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU – with support from Britain. That major signing ceremony occurred in Barbados in October 2008.
Perhaps Barbados could well be the venue for the signing of revised EPAs, not only by CARICOM countries but, if convenient, for other partner states within the wider grouping of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states that are also EPA signatories that would have to consider the implications for them as well of Brexit.
If a courtesy invitation has not already been extended to the ACP Secretariat for next week’s CARICOM summit in Guyana, then, hopefully, it’s not too late for this to be done to facilitate a dialogue on the way forward for co-ordinated initiatives to address the negative implications of Britain’s referendum vote to leave the EU.
Perhaps the Community Secretariat, in co-operation with the host Guyana government, could also consider inviting the British government to have a representative presence at the coming summit for the specific purpose of a UK/CARICOM consultation on the way forward after the Brexit vote.
Meaningful dialogue
Such a development could prove quite helpful for further structured dialogues designed to seriously respond to the challenges to maintain Britain’s vital role in the EU and, by extension, an important ally of the ACP bloc of states.
A government in London may not, however, be in any hurry to do so before determining its final overall strategy in negotiations with member states of the EU.
In addition to ensuring a participating presence by representatives of the Caribbean’s private sector, labour movement and leading non-governmental organisations, consideration should also be given to extending an invitation to the London-based Caribbean Council, whose very informed executive director, David Jessop, is a respected regular commentator on EU policies and programmes with keen interest in developments within CARICOM.
A question of immediate interest, however, is whether our Community leaders are really interested in moving away from predictable norms in the conduct of their regular annual summit in favour of meaningful dialogue that include experienced, respected Caribbean experts on challenges facing this region – beyond complaints pertaining to free movement of community nationals and intra-regional trade?
The Jamaica government is focused on having its own independent assessment of benefits and otherwise in its relationship with CARICOM. More on this concern after next week’s summitry politics in Guyana.
• Rickey Singh is a noted Caribbean journalist.
