The 23rd Summit of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) may be remembered more for the backdrop of violence which graced its ceremonial opening last Wednesday than for the economic objectives it is still striving to achieve.
The regional grouping of course can hardly expect to stay aloof of the domestic conflicts in its member states. Thus there was some concern for the safety of visiting Heads when an anti-government demonstration exploded on the grounds of the presidential complex in Georgetown.
The disorder tested the mettle of President Bharrat Jagdeo as leader of the ruling People's Progressive Party. It took strong police action and the lives of two demonstrators from the opposition People's National Congress to quell the disturbance.
Even when the CARICOM heads went on to tackle the more mundane matters, such as the creation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), the spectre of violence remained. Outgoing CARICOM Chairman, Said Musa of Belize, has called for a regional policy on deported criminals. As happens in Jamaica there is concern that such deportees are linked to a wave of violent crimes affecting the region.
In fact one of the topics the Summit was slated to tackle was the report of the Regional Task Force on Crime and Security. Whatever emerges should be of some relevance to Jamaica's own heightened state of alarm about a murder rate which has assumed frightening dimensions with 10 policemen among the victims since February.
The latest reports out of Georgetown point to what may become a formidable obstacle to the creation of the CSME. Such a formalised trading bloc would expect to include free movement of goods and services; but free movement of people is looming as a major hurdle.
The wide disparities in economic development and wealth is easily documented with reference to the status of Haiti, now formally welcomed as the 15th member of the regional grouping and recognised as the poorest nation in the hemisphere.
Haiti's economic status is made even more complicated by its track record of political conflict - a far cry from Guyana's simmering tensions or Trinidad's parliamentary dilemma.
CARICOM may be spreading its wings but there is still much turbulence ahead.
