By Leonardo Blair, Staff ReporterWITH A seminar on the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), set to get under way in Negril tomorrow, James Moss-Solomon, vice-president of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce, says Jamaicans will adjust to the CSME as it comes on stream across the region next January.
The seminar is being undertaken in association with the Negril Chamber of Commerce.
"It (CSME) is something that we know has been coming for 10 years. I am not one who is a disbeliever in the agility of the Jamaican people. Once they find out the opportunities that are available (with the CSME) and what they need to do to survive they act quickly," Mr. Moss-Solomon told The Gleaner yesterday.
CONFIDENCE
"I have every confidence that our people will change. They have little to lose and much to gain."
When the CSME becomes reality next January it will allow CARICOM goods, services, people and capital to move throughout the Caribbean Community without tariffs/barriers and without restrictions. It is expected to create a single economic space.
It will also facilitate the coordination and harmonisation of, among other things, foreign exchange and interest rate policies; tax regimes; laws and common currency in order to achieve a more homogenous economic performance across CARICOM member-states. Both arrangements should lead to greater efficiency for the benefit of the region.
While admitting that there is still some uncertainty among the wider population about how the CSME will change their lives, Dr. Andre Gordon, president of the Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA), says Jamaicans have a lot to gain from the CSME.
"We expect that the implementation of the CSME, combined with a refocusing of our export efforts on the Caribbean will see a significant increase in our exports to the region over the next 2-3 years," said Dr. Gordon. "There are several opportunities in the export of food, manufactured items, craft and giftware and services, including but not limited to cultural and entertainment services, professional services, ICT services and software to our Caribbean counterparts that we are not now exploiting," he explained.
Mr. Moss-Solomon said what is needed now for Jamaicans to take advantage of the CSME is the development of a more efficient mindset.
"Efficiency is not just about technology and machinery it is about mentality. it is the mindset of what do we do with what we have," he stated. He said much had been done to educate the society about the coming of the CSME and those who know nothing about it have just not been paying attention to the media.
"Serious attempts have been made (to educate the public), the journalists have done a great job but if people don't read they will not be informed. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse," he said.
