Transcript Towards a Single Economy and a single development vision
Towards a Single Economy and a Single Development Vision
Norman Girvan UWI
The challenge is to engineer a Single Market and Economy that enables us, collectively, to achieve certain things that we cannot achieve separately; that enhances our sense of collective security, collective identity and collective self-confidence in our ability to deal with the world on equal terms and to realise a vision for the future.
A Single Development Vision
Economic Social Environmental Governance
Economic objectives
Reasonable standard of living Opportunities for youth Self-sustaining growth Internationally competitive Equitable socially and spatially Ecologically sustainable Basic social services
The Caricom Charter for Civil Society
Human, civil, political, religious and cultural rights Rights of indigenous peoples, women, children, workers, the family and people with disabilities Rights to good governance Right to participation in the economy, health, education and basic necessities; Environmental rights Role of social partners Awareness and the responsibilities of the people.
Needed
Legal status for the Charter Obligatory regular reports on implementation Measurable objectives for youth, labour rights, education and health for 2015 Role of Caribbean Diaspora
Environment - key areas
Natural disasters Marine environment Watersheds & Forestry Energy Waste disposal
Environment – key actions
Implement existing laws, regional and international commitments Common Caricom environmental regime Regional & National State of the Environment Reports Publish and table reports in National Parliaments, Caribbean Parliamentary Assembly and Heads of Government Conference
Governance
Strengthening of Caribbean Parliamentary Assembly CCS Budget Report on Civil Society Report on Environment Deepening of conventional democracy – Local Government Foreign relations – Caribbean aid/outreach programme
Economic
CSME must be an instrument for economic transformation and competitiveness Treaty provides a legal framework for functional cooperation and common policies Need to fill in the framework – the what, when and who Foreign trade negotiations should be aligned with policies for transformation
Services
Self-employed service providers – great potential for expansion Common registry needed Equivalency and accreditation Educate immigration officers!
Learning from the past
Numerous technical studies Diversification Reduce/eliminate dependence on preferences Services Knowledge base
Why the “Implementation Gap”?
Lack of stakeholder ‘buy-in’ ‘Tyranny of the short-term’ Crisis management syndrome Donor driven agendas Legal and institutional machinery Distribution of costs and benefits
Lessons
Sequencing important Prioritise areas with high pay-offs to everyone Secure stakeholder involvement Use existing knowledge Adopt realistic implementation schedules
Sectoral priorities
2006-2010
Suggested for common policies
Domestic agriculture Preference – dependent industries Sustainable tourism Transport Information and Communication Technologies
Other priorities 2006-2010
Fiscal incentives harmonisation Company Law - harmonisation Labour Law - harmonisation Capital Market Integration Extended Freedom of Movement Exchange rate coordination
Priorities for 2011-2015
Caribbean Monetary Union Fiscal Policy - harmonisation Monetary Policy - harmonisation Taxation regimes - harmonisation
Institutional infrastructure
Existing 1.
2.
Caribbean Court of Justice Standards Organization CROSQ Pending 3.
Competition Commission 4.
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Regional Property Rights Office Phyto-Sanitary Organization Regional Fisheries Organization 7.
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Regional Development Fund Regional Securities Commission Conciliation Commission 10.
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CARICOM Commission Revenue Authority Court of Auditors Caribbean Assembly of Parliamentarians (Upgraded) Caribbean Central Bank Economic and Social Committee Ombudsman Office Regional Environmental Organization
Thank you for your kind attention!