Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel Stuart believes the time has come to have “full and frank discussions” on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Stuart, who is the lead CARICOM head with responsibility for CSME, expressed that view recently during a meeting at Ilaro Court with several CARICOM officials, led by Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque, even as he suggested that “we do not give ourselves enough credit for what we have achieved”.
“We have to look at what we have achieved; what remains to be achieved; what are the existing enabling features that can assist us in achieving; and what are the disabling features that can stand in the way. We have to see where our strengths, weaknesses and opportunities are, and be prepared to deal with any threats to the achievement of our objectives,” he said.
Prime Minister Stuart stressed that the CSME was a journey on which Caribbean governments had embarked, and not a destination.