Against the backdrop of the just concluded 37th meeting of the Caricom Heads of Government where it was resolved that the regional crime and security strategy would be reviewed, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is calling for bi-partisan discussions on security resolutions not only coming out of the Caricom heads meeting, but on all security matters.
The party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee, during a Press Conference on Monday renewed calls for the activation of the Parliamentary oversight committee of the security sector.
“The party further calls, on the Granger administration to place before the parliamentary oversight body, on the security sector, the draft CARICOM arrest warrant treaty fro bi-partisan consideration. The said treaty had been languishing for several years and was to be settled since 2008. Heads have now agreed to settle the treaty before the end of 2016. Further, the PPP calls for the Granger administration to place before the oversight committee…the revised national drug strategy master-plan” Rohee said.
He also expressed concern about the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) and how it will fair going forward within the African, Caribbean and Pacific states grouping and its Economic partnership agreement with the European Union.
It is in light of this that he is calling for a review of the EPA with EU as he believes that the CSME has paid a heavy price in this arena as it suffered from not only a lack of human but technical resources to navigate in some cases unequal economic circumstances.
Rohee said, “following the signing of the EPA agreement with the EU, CARICOM countries lack the vision and resources, as regards the ways and means to implement regional, preferential obligations within themselves on the one hand, and the EU outermost regions on the other. Moreover, the EPA with the EU undermined and expose the weaknesses and shortcomings of the Single Market and Economy.”
CARICOM heads resolved to review the CSME and free movement mechanism as well as a multimedia campaign to educate Caribbean nationals on the workings of the movement. A comprehensive review will be undertaken and the findings will be considered at the next Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Heads of Government, which will take place next February in Guyana.
