COTED to host special meeting to address transportation concerns

Transportation is an important instrument of trade, tourism, employment, defence and

economic development in the Caribbean as outlined in the list of key elements of the CARICOM

Single Market and Economy (CSME).

At the just concluded Inter-Sessional Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in Haiti, Heads of Members States expressed the firm view that transportation be placed as a ‘high priority’ on the agenda for discussion. In this regard the conference mandated that a special meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) be convened specifically to consider the key issues.

“While being aware of certain limitations, our integration process will only reach the harmony necessary for its completion when our fellow citizens learn to know and appreciate each other and have the opportunity to work together.” This sentiment was expressed by His Excellency Michel Joseph Martelly, President of the Republic of Haiti as he underlined the importance of improving transportation to facilitate the movement of persons, as well as goods.

President Martelly who is also CARICOM’s Chairman was very outspoken as it relates to the free movement of skills and goods, a key pillar in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

“I begin by quoting the problem of movement of persons and goods. Our countries are in a paradoxical situation: so close but yet so far! Among many other factors, the lack of a dedicated transport system constitutes the heart of this problem… In regard to our production, too often, a good manufactured within the Community must pass through a country outside the Community before reaching their destination in another Member State. Under these conditions, the inter-community trade will fail to reach an acceptable level of growth,” President Martelly said.

The recommendations of that meeting are to be brought to the Conference at its next meeting in July, 2013 in Trinidad and Tobago at which a session would be devoted to the issue.

CSME is intended to benefit the people of the Region by providing more and better opportunities to produce and sell goods and services and to attract investment. It will create one large market among the participating member states.