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KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 30, 2017 (CMC) — The final report from the CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Review Commission was handed to Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, today.
The report was presented by the commission’s Chairman, former Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, during a visit to the office of the Prime Minister.
The Commission comprised 17 members, along with ex-officio and support staff, from a wide cross section of sectors in Jamaica, including business, academia, the private sector and trade unions, among others.
The Commission met with several stakeholder groups, including former Prime Ministers in the CARICOM region, as well as former Secretaries General of the regional body.
In addition, the CARICOM Review Commission held focus group sessions with Jamaicans across several parishes.
Holness and the Cabinet are expected to review the document and its recommendations, prior to it being tabled in Parliament.
The Commission, which started its review last July, was mandated to, among other things, evaluate the effects that Jamaica’s participation in CARICOM has on its economic growth and development; analyze CARICOM’s performance against the goals and objectives outlined in the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and to identify the causes of the shortcomings; assess the value of Jamaica’s membership in CARICOM on its influence in critical international fora and with third state trade and development partners; and assess whether the CARICOM dispute settlement provisions provide realistic options for settlement of disputes for Jamaica.
