Robert BuddanRobert Buddan
CARICOM AND the Single Marketd Economy (SME) are designed to help member countries collectively realise goals that they cannot realise singly and to better realise goals through collaboration even if those goals could have been realised by acting alone. This is the basic idea behind regionalism. Regionalism does not subtract from, it adds to, and that is why most countries of the world are members of or in the process of forming a regional integration movement.
We in CARICOM are lucky to have begun this process in 1973 and to be so close to achieving a SME now. It is a misunderstanding of CARICOM and the SME to say that we cannot compete and we will not reap benefits. CARICOM and the SME are many things in one. They represent community, democracy, governance, and economic competition.
There are no other people in the world that we as Jamaicans are as culturally close to as the people of the CARICOM countries. No matter how hard we might try to be American, British, Canadian, Indian, African or Portuguese, we will not be as naturally like them as we are naturally like other Caribbean people. And Americans, British, Indians, Africans, etc., will not accept us as one of them as we accept each other.
NATURAL COMMUNITY
For example, as Americans and the British tighten immigration laws to keep out Caribbean people, we are opening ourselves up to more freedom of movement to work, trade, study, party, and make a common space among us. The Caribbean is our natural community. This psychological and cultural affinity we feel and this familiarity that we share, make up the foundation for the potential success of our other relationships.
It is for this reason that we stand to share in a stronger democratic community. The CARICOM Charter of Civil Society was adopted in 1996 and provides the foundation for a democracy that cannot be found in any of the member countries' own constitution. It binds member states to observe a range of rights that do not exist in national constitutions like that of Jamaica.
It recognises the rights of indigenous peoples, women, children and the disabled in Jamaica and the other territories. It recognises rights of the family, something not addressed in the Jamaican constitution. In so doing it notes the importance of 'the fulfilment of the necessary condition for the promotion of family life and effective parenting skills'. Responsible parenthood, we all accept, is necessary to a sound and stable society.
The Charter recognises that as a community of people, our rights are richer and more diverse. It therefore calls for respect of cultural diversity and religious diversity, which are especially important under globalisation. It addresses itself to political rights that the Jamaican constitution does not address directly.
It plainly says that every person shall have the right to form and join a political party and attend, participate and give expression to one's political beliefs. Furthermore, it goes further than national constitutions to make it clear that each person has the right, not just to be represented, but to represent himself. It gives each person the right to be available for nomination for an election to any public office to which that person
qualifies.
The same Charter of Civil Society requires member states to 'adopt and implement all appropriate measures to ensure governance that is just, open and accountable'. It is by this Charter that CARICOM has refused to recognise the contrived government in Haiti. The process of removing one and establishing another government in Haiti was undemocratic. The Charter also affirms the rule of law, effective administration of justice, independence and impartiality of the judiciary and public service, which it says are, 'essential to good governance'. It calls for a code governing the holders of public office so that morality in public affairs can be assured.
It sets standards for states to treat their citizens. States should strive for cost-effectiveness while supporting development. The public sector should treat citizens humanely and equally. It should respond to peoples' needs to provide goods and services.
It makes provisions regarding the economy as well. It recognises the right of all people to participate in the economy. This means that economies cannot be run for the privileges of a few. Everyone must have the same consideration for business opportunities and for owning property. Furthermore, the Charter recognises workers rights and other rights and responsibilities such as environmental rights and the responsibility of citizens to their country, democracy and the environment. The Charter goes a far way in establishing standards for good governance beyond what many Member States have established for themselves.
AN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY
Because we constitute a human community we need to share certain rights as a democratic community and to be governed by certain standards of governance so that when we compete in a single market space we will not exploit each other, damage the environment, victimise races and religions, oppress workers, and deny participation in public affairs the way that foreign companies and governments from outside the region have done over hundreds of years. The Charter is a pact that we will operate a single market and economy that is fair and just.
It is for this very reason that we in Jamaica or any other member state will be able to compete better in CARICOM than in NAFTA, the FTAA or any other free trade area. We all make the rules together and they are made for equity. This is the problem with the FTAA and US-led globalisation. If there is one SME that we should jump into, it is the CARICOM SME.
CARICOM is a sphere of greater freedom for people, for democracy, governance and for economic competition. This is why the CCJ is a natural and necessary accompaniment. To stall the CCJ is a great injustice to all of these freedoms.
As I have argued before, Jamaica does compete well in the region. Most eligible CARICOM states won't join the SME immediately because of the competitive strength of Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica and the need for other states to adjust. Over the last decade, Jamaica has been the leading competitor in tourism in the Caribbean. Only in 2003, Jamaica won many of the World Travel Awards (World's leading all-inclusive - Sandals; Caribbean's leading hotel group - Sandals; Caribbean's leading resort - Royal Plantation). Air Jamaica is the Caribbean's leading airline. In 2003, it was voted the best airline to the Caribbean for the fifth consecutive year.
LEADING CRUISE SHIP
DESTINATION
CARICOM offers us and the region the opportunity to compete even better. We can market our common destination and take advantage of greater tourism economy of scale. The Caribbean is already the leading cruise ship destination ahead of other competitive regions. The president of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association says that even more can be gained from a partnership between regional leaders. CARICOM can benefit Jamaica in other ways. It will improve the competitiveness of technology-driven economic activity; amalgamate poorly performing banks and insurance companies in the region (for example, RBTT's amalgamations), to make the region's financial system sounder; and build regional competitiveness in agriculture and tourism.
CARICOM is more than an economic area. In fact, its economic success will be enhanced by the strengthening of the area as a cultural community of peoples along with their freedoms in a larger democratic space, and their governments' ability to respond to people by higher standards of governance. This will ensure that competition is free, fair and helpful to all the people of the region.
Robert Buddan lectures in the Department of Government, UWI, Mona. E-mail: Robert.Buddan@uwimona.edu.jm
