Moves afoot to restructure CARIFORUM

Belize Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington first gave the regional public the hint that something was amiss within the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping.

He told reporters that the Spanish-speaking member had raised some issues about CARIFORUM that was created in 1992 during last month's 18th meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) council of ministers, the second-highest body within the 15-member regional grouping.

He said the authorities in the Dominican Republic were not comfortable with the current structure of CARIFORUM - the grouping which consists of the CARICOM countries, as well as Cuba and the Dominican Republic - and was also concerned about the role of the CARICOM secretary general and the reporting procedure.

"The Dominican Republic doesn't seem to want the director general to have to report to the council of ministers by going through the secretary general of CARIFORUM. Their recommendation is for the director general to have a direct line to the council of ministers and not have to report to the secretary general of CARICOM.

"It's a thorny issue because protocol has always been for institutions, certainly the CARICOM institutions, to make reports through the secretary general that is the highest post. And from the secretary general, it goes to the council of ministers or to the heads of government. You just don't bypass your secretary general," Elrington said.

In 2008, CARICOM and the Dominican Republic signed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the 27-nation European Union (EU) and, according to former secretary general of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Professor Norman Girvan, "the EPA defines the Dominican Republic as part of the region".

In fact, the Dominican Republic has an economy that is larger than that of any single CARICOM members and the equivalent of 64 per cent of the combined size of all of CARICOM.

The EPA's Regional Preference clause obliges CARIFORUM states to extend to each other the same treatment they extend to the EU.

Former diplomat, Sir Ron Sanders, in one of his weekly newspaper commentaries, has also noted that there is not "much to consider" given the fact that regional leaders have not yet given the green light to the Dominican Republic's application to join the regional integration movement that was first presented for consideration in 2009.

"The Dominican Republic is already an elephant in the CARICOM room that cannot be ignored - its participation in CARIFORUM, and the terms of the EPA with the EU, make it a big player," Sir Ron noted.

"The English-speaking countries of CARICOM can no longer inhabit an exclusive neighbour-hood. They have to concede they are small players, and acknowledge that only cohesive action will preserve their identity, their culture, their language - and a meaningful place in the Caribbean economic space," he added.

overwhelmingly clear

Antigua and Barbuda's trade coordinator, Ambassador Dr Clarence Henry, who attended the Belize meeting where the Dominican Republic issue had been raised, said the member countries, on reflecting on the future roleof CARIFORUM, were "overwhelmingly clear" that CARIFORUM was no longer an institution which managed the donor funds of the European Union, "but one which must take the lead role in the implementation of the EPA.

"As such, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the directorate and, as a consequence, make some changes to its structure. The member states wish to see a CARIFORUM which is impactful, effective, proactive and aggressive," added Henry, who is also head of his country's EPA Implementation Unit.

institutional overhaul

Antigua and Barbuda has since put forward a proposal to conduct "an urgent in depth assessment of CARIFORUM Directorate which would result in an institutional overhaul" he added.

At the Belize meeting, both Barbados and Jamaica supported the creation of a new head of CARIFORUM in the form of a director general, arguing also for additional directors.

Emanating from this proposal was the agreement that the director general should be the EPA coordinator. Both proposals included the need for there to be a genuine EPA implementation unit for CARIFORUM, which is located in the CARIFORUM Directorate.

But there appears to be some disagreement as to whether the CARICOM secretary general should continue to be the secretary general of CARIFORUM with the new director general reporting through the secretary general to the leaders.

Henry believes there needs to be autonomy for CARIFORUM, which will require substantial amendment to the rules of procedure and that a team, chaired by Belize, and comprising Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda and the Dominican Republic, has been established to examine the legal and other implications. The team will report within 60 days.

"Times have changed and CARIFORUM must change," Henry said, noting that the Belize meeting provided the first-ever opportunity for a "unified spirit and a willingness of CARIFORUM member states to move from their entrenched positions".

The meeting agreed that the current position of assistant secretary general of CARIFORUM should be designated as director general and should assume the position of CARIFORUM EPA coordinator, in addition to his or her responsibilities for the CARIFORUM Directorate. This position will be filled by a national of the Dominican Republic up to September 16, 2012.

- CMC