AMID the resounding calls for remedial action to redress the numerous shortcomings that have brought the regional grouping to a nearly disastrous standstill, officialdom has recently become aware of the clear and present danger of Caricom’s possible disintegration.
Meanwhile, the Jamaican private sector could only watch in dismay at the ballooning trade deficit with the Eastern Caribbean territories and Trinidad and Tobago in particular.
Concurrently, there were strident calls for Jamaica to withdraw from Caricom or otherwise take an 18-month leave of absence from the regional group. However, both options proved to be sterile, but aroused the Jamaican government to take its first encouraging steps in league with the private sector, to pursue a resolution to the inequitable trade imbalance with T&T. This approach had to be carefully managed to avoid creating any ill will with T&T, who is expected to “come to the table” when they understand the resolute purpose of the Jamaican action. Motivation for T&Ts concern is the reality that, unless carefully managed, their largest market -- Jamaica -- could be in jeopardy.
Around 2008, Jamaica was agonising over what national energy fuel should be selected to fire up the extractive industries which had been idle for some time due to the fall-off in business caused by the world recession, together with the public transport system and the power generation sector that included the Jamaican Public Service. Go to the rest of the story...