Chamber holds workshop on single market
A workshop on efforts to create the single market for CARICOM countries was held today for members of the private sector. The consultation was hosted by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and was conducted by the Technical Action Services Unit of the CARICOM Secretariat. Since 1995 the T.A.S.U. has been assisting member states in getting past the implementation phase of the CARICOM Single Market. Although the CARICOM Single Market has not been fully implemented, certain moves have already been made in this direction. For example all barriers with respect to the free movement of goods have been substantially removed. Today as other protocols like trade, transport, disputes settlement and competition polices are being prepared for ratification, B.C.C.I.’s President Yolanda Crombie said they are making sure that their member’s rights will be protected.
Yolanda Crombie, President, B.C.C.I.
“There are some of them that we feel are very current and topical. For example protocol four which is the protocol dealing with trade. Under the Chaguaramos Treaty, Belize has certain provisions that allow us certain latitude for trading without having to go to CARICOM or through CARICOM. The new text of protocol four removes that leverage, removes that certain protection and this does concern us to a certain extent.
We would like to ensure our private sector representatives that the new text does not disadvantage us in any way in terms of economic development and trade. The other issue is that public education needs to be done for the private sector to feel at ease as to whether or not they as the private sector would have an influx of people from the Caribbean territories who would take away jobs or opportunities. And we need to sensitize members that there are certain benefits that could come with the establishment of these protocols.”
David Lord, Sr. Project Officer, T.A.S.U.
“In fact a number of the Belizean participants have brought to our attention some of the barriers they have encountered in their attempts to trade with the other member states of the community. Those have been taken on board and we will make emphasis to make sure that they are addressed at the appropriate level.”
Q: “Could you give us some examples of what difficulties they have been experiencing?”
David Lord
“In particular they have expressed concern with regards to the existence of some member states of non-tariff barriers. I think specific mention was made of one of the existing external taxes in one of the member states which creates a problem for Belizeans wishing to move their goods in that particular member state. That has been a problem and we have encouraged the Belizean participants to take those issues to the competent authority here in Belize for the submission to the secretariat where we will seek for them to address those issues.”
Yvonne Holder, Head, T.A.S.U.
“We have done something like this before in Belize about 3 years ago but naturally things have changed. The implementation process has moved forward and there are more protocols that have come on stream. Therefore we are here again at the invitation of the Chamber which I think is an excellent idea to help broaden the level of understanding on both sides in terms of the Chamber and the Chamber’s members. The private sector in Belize understands what the rights and obligations of the various protocols are and also for us at the level of the secretariat to see how our assistance can be more focussed.”
Special guest speaker at the one-day workshop was Jose Coye Minister of Industry and Commerce.
