By Peter Richards
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC_ – Montserrat Premier Reuben Meade marked his return to the CARICOM summit by saying that the 51-year-old regional integration movement “we know it is no longer affordable to most of us and it does not provide value for money”.
Meade, who was elected as premier of the British Overseas Territory in November last year after having bowed out of active politics, serving as the island’s first premier between 2011 and 2014, told his regional colleagues that “can we truly say that CARICOM works for, or is even understood by the man on the bus to Oistins” — the smallest town in Barbados, which is located on the southernmost tip of the island.
Meade, addressing the ceremonial opening of the 48th regular meeting of CARICOM, said there is a need to make decisions and implement them within the agreed timelines.
”How functional or relevant are some of the institutions of CARICOM? Do we need to do a full review, reduce operational costs, and make CARICOM an agent of change for the people of our region?
“We do have the capacity to perform those reviews with regional resources without external donor funding. Keep it simple. I say the time to make such decisions is now. CARICOM as we know it is no longer affordable to most of us and it does not provide value for money. I urge us all to rethink the institutions to make them more meaningful and the ones that are no longer relevant, amputate now,” he added.
Meade, 70, a former chief minister of Montserrat, said that he is hoping that his statements about the regional integration movement “is taken in the spirit in which it was made but truly, our people are asking why expend these sums on an institution, which to them brings little or no value for money.
“So, as we gather as leaders, let us focus on effective and impactful decision-making that brings benefits to all our people across the Caribbean Community.”
He said that many years ago, CARICOM leaders had decided to enable Caribbean nationals to have the opportunity to use driver’s licenses or other forms of government-issued photo identification for travel within the region.
“This has still not been put into effect by all our member states. In like manner, a decision was taken to allow CARICOM nationals the use of their national driver’s licenses to drive in any member state. This also has not been made possible by all member states.”
Meade, an economist, said that tourism is the number one industry in most of the member states but asked “Why are we overburdening those arriving at our airports with paperwork – requiring them to do an intelligence test by copying their passport information onto an ED card, be it electronic or paper?
“And this is especially so for our nationals. I’m sure this is something that can be done in a more automated manner, especially since these machine-readable passports are scanned when they are presented to an immigration officer.
”Another question is: Why is it that our airport taxes are so high, thus making it so expensive to travel in the region? This is an economic hindrance to our people moving freely across the region, as oftentimes the taxes can be more than the advertised ticket price.”
Meade said that as the only British colony that is a full member of 15-member CARICOM, it should be noted that when most regional project funds are allocated to CARICOM, even from Britain, “we in Montserrat are excluded.
“Even though, we are fully paid up in our contributions. Every effort should be made to ensure that all…and I repeat…all member states can participate in participating in any of these regional projects. ”
He said that for the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and other agencies represented at the opening ceremony “how can we use gross national income (GNI) as a means of graduating member states when a single hurricane which impacts the region annually, can set a member or member states back several years.
“We need to factor in a discounting mechanism using the Vulnerability Index. Let’s take Montserrat as an example, we are being graduated from Official Development Assistance (ODA) when over 60 percent of our recurrent budget is funded by grants from the UK government. This is something that needs serious reconsideration,” Meade said.
In her address, Barbados Prime Minister and CARICOM chairman, Mia Mottley, acknowledged that there is a need to reflect on various issues confronting CARICOM, adding “As we reflect on these matters, to recognise that if this institution of regional unity is to be fit for purpose in the 21st century, the third decade, then it may well require some decisions”
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley speaking at the opening of the CARICOM summit in Barbados on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (CMC Photo)
She said Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and others have put on the table various matters that need attention, including the free movement of all Caribbean nationals under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) “but have eluded us thus far.
“Freedom of movement to Caribbean people is at the center of who and why we are here, and I trust and pray that we can leave Bridgetown with clarity on this objective,” she said.
“We have a responsibility to reform this institution. We have spoken for too long as to the need for independent funding mechanisms, whether it is assessed at the imports, whether it is an issue of a small fee for all border passing people coming in and out of our borders, or whether it is the assignment of renewable energy licenses to carry com and our regional institutions,” Mottley said, adding “the time is upon us for settling the independent funding of this Caribbean community.
“In addition, we need to review the governance mechanisms and recognise that there may be a need for a greater political voice alongside the administrative structures of CARICOM as we have come to know it over the last few decades.
“I pray that as we reflect on the urgent need for cooperation and unity, above all else, we shall continue to see our people up front and center, she added.
“I ask us, as we come to Bridgetown, therefore to appreciate that we may not have the luxury of having a heads meeting that follows the usual template, but if we can at this meeting expose our hearts and our minds to each other and agree on A common platform on critical issues.
“We will not get it all right one time, but we must have a common vision, and we must prepare to recognize that none of us will get exactly what we want, but we must all work for what the people of the Caribbean need. “
She said that if regional leaders can do so, “then we will have run successfully our leg of the relay race.
“It was once said when the West Cities Federation broke (up) that one from 10 leaves naught. The heads of government and the heads of state of the Caribbean region must show, mathematically, that one time 15 is equal to one, if one time 15 is equal to one, then we shall be able to withstand all that is thrown upon us from the world and from within, and arise to the point where we will bring to our people a level of economic development, stability, and prosperity…”
