The capitalisation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Development Fund (CDF) has merged as a contentious issue as Caribbean leaders enter the final day of their annual summit here on Friday.
The CDF is an institution of the CARICOM with a mandate to provide financial or technical assistance to disadvantaged countries, regions and sectors in the Community.
According to the CARICOM website, in this capacity, the CDF is central to addressing the disparities among the member states of CARICOM, which may result from the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of skills, good, services and labour across the 15-member grouping.
CARICOM sources told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that Jamaica had stormed out of the caucus meeting last night as the issue was being discussed with Prime Minister Andrew Holness apparently disagreeing with his regional colleagues on the position adopted on the contributions to be made by the so-called more developed countries of CARICOM.
Holness did not speak to reporters when he arrived at the venue for the summit on Friday, but informed sources said that Kingston is questioning the accuracy of the report of previous meetings on the matter.
They said Jamaica is claiming their position is to opt out at this point of time of making a contribution to the CDF, while some Caribbean countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago , Antigua, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts-Nevis contend that they cannot opt out and that it is an obligation of each member by way of Treaty.
Further the sources said that the other Caribbean countries argue that if Jamaica cannot pay at this point in time, they should acknowledge that they owe and make it a debt payable.
Jamaica responded that it would be “unfortunate” and any attempt to blame Kingston for any failure of this meeting will be “resisted”.
Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell told CMC that while he would not want to comment on the situation, the CDF is a fund “meant to help the less developed countries …to deal with the problem of the unbalance in trade issues.
“Jamaica indicated that it has some financial problems that it has to deal with and I think a decision was made years ago for the second tranche. So there was an issue concerning this and I think Jamaica is in the best position to answer for themselves on that,” Mitchell told CMC.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley told CMC that “virtually all Caribbean territories have resource issues. What we have confirmed is that as part of the treaty by way of treaty clauses, as we operationalize the CSME there is a requirement to look after the needs of the LDCS through the clause that says we have to set up this CDF which gives them a benefit.
“So the MDCs, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, who will be the major beneficiaries of the CSME accessing the markets of the smaller countries that do not have the same capacity to benefit from the CSME. So the treaty makes provision for those countries in the MDCs to fund this CDF”
But he said as had been discussed when regional leaders held a special summit on CSME in Trinidad last December, “to operationalize the CSME, the requirement to fund the CDF is now upon us at a time when all of us have financial constraints.
“So what we are saying is that we should not allow our financial constraints prevent us from operationalizing the CSME, but having said and done that, we must now to the best of our ability accept that responsibility to fund the CDF and find in in an agreed arrangement.”
Rowley said he believes “we have an understanding what we discussed yesterday and discussed going forward is encouraging everybody to pay up.
“You live in the Caribbean, you know how it is, whether it is UWI (University of the West Indies) …we usually have to encourage people to make their payments<’ Rowley told CMC.
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The CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) is an institution of the Caribbean Community which mandate is to provide financial or technical assistance to disadvantaged countries, regions and sectors in the Community. Contributions are paid into the fund my the MDC’s (more developed countries) like Jamaica and Trinidad. Apparently, both Jamaica and Trinidad are in arrears with their contributions and this was brought about by their own current economic situations. Apparently, the Jamaican PM was not too pleased that his country is asked to contribute towards the well being of the smaller and less developing countries and stormed out of the talks. Apparently, arrangements are being made for both Trinidad and Jamaica to pay their subscription at a later date.
This is the reason why I see CSME as a farce.
How can you have a single market and not contribute financially to its basic functions.
Jamaica want all the benefits of CSME particularly free movement of people which they push relentlessly and even take as far as the CCJ, but don’t ask them to help pay for the healthcare, housing or education in these small vulnerable states.
Jamaicans are users. Reminds me of the guy at the bar who drinks himself stupid at every round, but when it’s his turn to buy the round he runs to the bathroom and is nowhere to be found.
Yep, and with security guards and domestic aids one of their main export been pushed to be added to the list is no more work permits. Benifits, benefits, benifits and unwillingness to put in a dime.
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