Dear Editor,
The constant disrespect being meted out to Jamaicans when travelling toTrinidad is causing many to question the relevance of Caricom to Jamaica.
Despite valid concerns, some continue to argue that critics of Caricom should stop whining. These intellectuals posit that critics should seek redress by taking their claims to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in its original jurisdiction. This is a logical suggestion, because in its original jurisdiction, the CCJ interprets and applies the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which is the agreement governing Caricom. Therefore, by using this channel, Jamaican businessmen and citizens will be entitled to redress if it is proven that defendants breached the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
However, supporters of regional integration are wrong to promulgate that Jamaicans are unaware of the benefits of Caricom. The reality is that, Jamaica has been a devoted member of Caricom whereas other states have repeatedly breached the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
In contrast, Jamaican law has also been amended to allow a wider variety of skilled Caricom nationals to work in Jamaica without a work permit. Most Caricom states have not been so progressive. Further, we cannot forget that Jamaica contributed US$ 27 million to the CCJ’s trust fund.
Jamaica gives much to Caricom and gets too little. This is why regionalism is not popular, not because Jamaicans are small-minded, as some would want us to believe.
Additionally, proponents of regional integration like to argue that the economy would be less productive if Jamaica left Caricom — like this is an empirical fact. Leaders in the public and private sectors need to do studies to outline the pros and cons of Jamaica exiting Caricom.
Lastly, the present Administration should be commended for creating a commission to assess the value of Caricom to Jamaica. We ought not to believe that it will be harder for the economy to progress if Jamaica exits Caricom just because the elites say so.
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com
The constant disrespect being meted out to Jamaicans when travelling toTrinidad is causing many to question the relevance of Caricom to Jamaica.
Despite valid concerns, some continue to argue that critics of Caricom should stop whining. These intellectuals posit that critics should seek redress by taking their claims to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in its original jurisdiction. This is a logical suggestion, because in its original jurisdiction, the CCJ interprets and applies the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which is the agreement governing Caricom. Therefore, by using this channel, Jamaican businessmen and citizens will be entitled to redress if it is proven that defendants breached the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
However, supporters of regional integration are wrong to promulgate that Jamaicans are unaware of the benefits of Caricom. The reality is that, Jamaica has been a devoted member of Caricom whereas other states have repeatedly breached the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
In contrast, Jamaican law has also been amended to allow a wider variety of skilled Caricom nationals to work in Jamaica without a work permit. Most Caricom states have not been so progressive. Further, we cannot forget that Jamaica contributed US$ 27 million to the CCJ’s trust fund.
Jamaica gives much to Caricom and gets too little. This is why regionalism is not popular, not because Jamaicans are small-minded, as some would want us to believe.
Additionally, proponents of regional integration like to argue that the economy would be less productive if Jamaica left Caricom — like this is an empirical fact. Leaders in the public and private sectors need to do studies to outline the pros and cons of Jamaica exiting Caricom.
Lastly, the present Administration should be commended for creating a commission to assess the value of Caricom to Jamaica. We ought not to believe that it will be harder for the economy to progress if Jamaica exits Caricom just because the elites say so.
Lipton Matthews
lo_matthews@yahoo.com