The Seventh Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean
Community was held in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago on 26-27 October 1999.
Heads of Government in attendance were: Hon. Lester B. Bird, Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antigua and Barbuda; Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, Prime Minister
of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas; Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur, Prime Minister and Minister of
Finance and Economic Development, Barbados; Hon. Edison James, Prime Minister and Minister
of Legal Affairs, Labour and, Dominica; Dr the Hon. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of
Grenada; His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana;
His Excellency René Préval, President of the Republic of Haiti; the Rt. Hon. Percival J.
Patterson, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Jamaica; Hon. David Brandt, Chief
Minister, Montserrat; Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Finance, Planning and National Security, St. Kitts and Nevis; Dr. the Hon. Kenny
D. Anthony, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Planning and Development, Foreign
Affairs, Home Affairs and Information, Saint Lucia; Rt. Hon. Sir James E. Mitchell, Prime
Minister and Minister of Finance, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; H.E. Dr. Jules A.
Wijdenbosch, President of the Republic of Suriname, and Hon. Basdeo Panday, Prime
Minister, Trinidad and Tobago.
Belize was represented by the Hon. John Briceño, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Natural Resources, Environment and Industry.
Anguilla was represented by the Chief Minister, the Hon. Hubert Hughes.
The Conference observed a minute's silence in remembrance of His Excellency
Julius Nyerere, former President of Tanzania.
OPENING STATEMENT
In welcoming delegations, the Chairman extended a special welcome to His Excellency
Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana who was attending his first Meeting of the Conference
as a Head of State. He also expressed the sympathy and support of the Caribbean Community
to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas which had suffered serious damage from the passage of
Hurricane Floyd.
In his Opening Remarks, the Chairman warned of the danger of the slow progress in
transforming the promise of regional integration into manifest benefits for the people of
the Region.
He also urged that a comprehensive, co-ordinated public education and communications
programme be mounted, targeted to the widest possible regional audience, to facilitate the
implementation of measures necessary to accelerate the pace of integration.
INSTRUMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY
Heads of Government noted with satisfaction that the following Member States signed
various protocols amending the Treaty of Chaguaramas:
Belize - Protocol III (Industrial Policy) and Protocol V (Agricultural
Policy);
Grenada - Protocol IV (Trade Policy); and
Suriname - Protocols III, IV, V, VI (Transportation Policy) and VII
(Disadvantaged Countries, Regions and Sectors).
They also noted that arrangements were in place for Montserrat to sign the relevant
Protocols thereby concluding the signature of all the Protocols that have so far been
completed.
Two remaining Protocols (VIII - Dispute Settlement Mechanism and IX - Competition
Policy) are now scheduled for completion and signature by the next Inter-Sessional Meeting
of the Conference in March 2000.
They also welcomed the signing by the Commonwealth of The Bahamas of the CARICOM
Agreement on Social Security, which permits the transfer of benefits accruing to nationals
of signatory countries as they relocate from one country to another.
CARICOM IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Heads of Government in defining their Vision of the Caribbean Community in the early 21st
century, agreed that it was first necessary to take stock and complete their unfinished
agenda of the 20th century. To that end, they recalled the measures set out in
the Grand Anse Declaration and Work Programme adopted in 1989 and assessed the progress
made in the implementation of those measures. They also recalled the West Indian
Commission Report - Time for Action - which flowed therefrom and
reiterated the continuing relevance of its recommendations.
Against this background, Heads of Government issued the "Consensus of
Chaguaramas" which identified the goals to be achieved and action to be
taken as the Region proceeds into the 21st century. A copy of the
Consensus
of Chaguaramas is attached hereto.
CARIBBEAN COURT OF JUSTICE
Heads of Government underscored the centrality of the Caribbean Court of Justice in the
institutional structures of the Community, including its importance to the successful
functioning of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. They noted the progress in the
arrangements for establishing the Court and welcomed the assurance of the Government of
Trinidad and Tobago that the accommodation and other related facilities would be ready by October
2000.
They decided to mount a regional education and public awareness campaign to sensitise
all members of civil society about the role and function of the Court.
Heads of Government also mandated the Secretariat to consider the measures required for
Haiti and Suriname, both of which have civil law systems as against the common law systems
of the rest of the Member States of the Caribbean Community, to participate in the
Caribbean Court of Justice.
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
Heads of Government received progress reports on the status of negotiations in which
the Region is involved, namely, a successor agreement to the Lomé IV Convention, and the
Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), as well as preparations for the upcoming round of
WTO negotiations. They noted the complexity of the inter-relationship among these
negotiations.
They welcomed the recent breakthrough in the trade aspects of the post-Lomé IV
negotiations resulting from discussions between the European Union (EU) and ACP
Ministerial negotiating teams.
With respect to the FTAA negotiations, Heads of Government expressed grave concern
about the seeming absence of real commitment on the part of the rest of the hemisphere to
the concerns of smaller economies. In this regard, in keeping with the fundamental
principle adopted in the 1994 Miami Declaration of the First Summit of the Americas, and
reaffirmed in the Second Summit of the Americas in Santiago in 1998 CARICOM delegations
attending the forthcoming FTAA Ministerial Meeting in Toronto were mandated to insist that
the inclusion of the special and differential treatment for small economies be part of the
programme of each negotiating group before the launch of actual negotiations.
With regard to the WTO negotiations, Heads of Government endorsed the strategic
approach to be pursued by CARICOM at the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Seattle, as
recommended by the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee, on the basis of submissions from the
Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM).
Heads of Government expressed their appreciation to the RNM for its contribution in
advancing the position of the Region in the various multi-lateral negotiations in which it
is engaged.
BANANAS
Heads of Government noted the continuing effort to find a satisfactory resolution to
the problems associated with the marketing of Caribbean bananas in Europe following the
decision by the WTO with respect to the European Union Banana Import Regime. The leaders
supported the proposal of the Hon Prime Minister of Dominica to seek an urgent meeting
with the United States Trade Representative to advance the process.
FINANCIAL MATTERS
Heads of Government of those CARICOM States which are also members of the
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reiterated their commitment to facilitating the
accession of the OECS States to membership of the Bank , as a group. To this end, they
agreed to cede shares to the OECS and to take all other steps necessary to ensure that the
aspiration of the OECS States is realised in the shortest possible time.
Heads of Government endorsed the decision of the Council for Financing and Planning
(COFAP) to institutionalise the monitoring of prudential and supervisory regulations and
to update legislation relating to the financial sector in the Region, in order to ensure
compliance with best practices and international standards.
MONTSERRAT
Heads of Government expressed appreciation at the completion of 15 houses (Phase1) of
the CARICOM Village in Montserrat and noted the gratitude expressed by the Chief Minister
of Montserrat. Heads of Government also expressed their thanks to the Governments of
Barbados and Jamaica and the Caribbean Development Bank for their roles in ensuring the
completion of the houses.
Heads of Government mandated the CARICOM Secretariat to collaborate with the Government
of Montserrat in the preparation of a project for the completion of Phase II of the
Housing project.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN GUYANA
Heads of Government received a draft preliminary report from Dr. the Hon. Kenny
Anthony, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, and Head of Government with responsibility for
overseeing the Implementation of the Herdmanston Accord and the Saint Lucia Statement.
They welcomed the progress made to date on constitutional reform.
As regards the question of political dialogue, Heads of Government called on President
Bharrat Jagdeo and Mr. Desmond Hoyte to meet at the earliest possible time without
conditions. Heads of Government also expressed the need for greater involvement by the
wider civil society in helping to resolve the present situation.
Heads of Government also agreed to extend the services of the Facilitator up to the end
of the current year.
GUYANA-VENEZUELA RELATIONS
Heads of Government noted that 3 October 1999 had marked the 100th
Anniversary of the Paris Arbitral Award by which the existing boundary between Guyana and
Venezuela was defined by unanimous judgement.
They also viewed with concern the fact that Venezuela had reiterated its contention
that the Arbitral Award of 1899 is null and void and continues to advance its claim to the
Essequibo region of Guyana.
Heads of Government further noted the commitment of the two countries to the good
offices process of the United Nations Secretary-General.
In this regard, Heads of Government fully endorsed the
RESOLUTION approved by the
Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians in Grenada on 15 October 1999, a copy of
which is appended to this Communique.
They reiterated their firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Guyana and their desire for a peaceful settlement to the controversy.
HAITI
The Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines reported to Heads of Government on
the mission to Haiti which he conducted on their behalf. During the visit the Mission met
with Political Parties, Groups and Civic Organisations, which expressed their own views
and descriptions which are neither supported nor endorsed by Heads of Government.
The Heads of Government noted that the registration of electors was urgent and was a
key prerequisite for the holding of elections in Haiti.
They commended the Mission on its work and agreed that the team led by Sir James
Mitchell would continue to monitor the situation in Haiti and should return to establish
the areas in which the Community could provide support.
Heads of Government also agreed to urge the International Community to remain engaged
in Haiti as that country seeks to consolidate previous gains and to execute a programme
leading to free and fair elections.
EASTERN CARIBBEAN FISH KILL
Heads of Government expressed concern about the recent fish kill in the Eastern
Caribbean and its negative effect on the tourism and fisheries industries. They noted the
report of the Meeting of the Technical Experts held in Barbados on 16 October and mandated
the Secretariat to continue to follow-up this matter, particularly with the international
scientific community, in order to determine the cause of this incident and identify
measures which might be taken to prevent a recurrence.
WEST INDIES CRICKET
Heads of Government reiterated the continuing importance of cricket to the ethos
identity and development of the Community. They endorsed the convening of a CARICOM/UWI
Regional Cricket Conference. Activities in that regard will be launched in January 2000
and will continue throughout the cricket season, culminating in a Plenary Session at UWI,
Barbados, on 8-11 May 1999. National conferences will be held in each CARICOM Member
State, the conclusions of which will be tabled at the final plenary. They noted that the
Government of Barbados has offered to fund the Regional Steering Committee and the Final
Plenary in Barbados. They underscored that the conference which will bring together all
interests groups will have as its main objective the formulation of realistic and
practical proposals for the present and future development of West Indies cricket.
LEEWARD ISLAND AIR TRANSPORT (LIAT)
Heads of Government received a report on the state of the regional airline LIAT. They
expressed their serious concern over the present difficulties which threaten the continued
survival of this vital regional air service. They agreed to hold within a week in Saint
Lucia, an urgent meeting of officials of shareholder states of LIAT, to determine future
action.
IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT
Heads of Government agreed that the President of the Republic of Suriname, His
Excellency, Jules Wijdenbosch, will represent the Caribbean Community at the
Ibero-American Summit to be held on 15-16 November 1999, in Havana, Cuba
APPRECIATION
Heads of Government, having returned to the birth-place of the Community, expressed
their deep appreciation for the inspiration which it imparted to their deliberations as
they sought to chart the course for the Community in the forthcoming century. They thanked
the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago for this opportunity and for the generous
hospitality extended to them for the second time in 1999.
Attachment I
CONSENSUS OF CHAGUARAMAS
The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community meeting in its Seventh
Special Session at Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago on 26-27 October 1999;
Having deliberated on a Vision for the future of the Region, and recognising the need
for ensuring that the integration of the Region must be made more meaningful for its
people, especially the Youth, adopted the
Consensus of Chaguaramas as
follows:
- Heads of Government noted that the choice of Chaguaramas, the cradle of the Community as
the location of this meeting was most propitious;
- The Heads of Government recalled the landmark document,
The Declaration
of Grand Anse, which was signed at the Tenth Meeting of the Conference at Grand
Anse, Grenada, July 1989 and which set out the path for the Community towards the 21st
century: They noted the achievement of the following goals set out therein:
(a) The revision of two Common Market
Instruments, namely, the Common External Tariff and the Rules of Origin;
- Strengthened Customs Co-operation and Customs Administration;
- Provision (in Protocol II) for the free movement of capital and its facilitation by
cross-listing and trading of securities in the existing three stock exchanges (Barbados,
Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago);
- Establishment of a Caribbean Investment Fund to provide equity and venture capital;
- Arrangements for the free movement of skilled and professional persons;
- Intensification of joint representation in international economic negotiations;
- Establishment of an Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians;
- Establishment and completion of the work of the Independent West Indian Commission;
- Creation of a Council for Finance and Planning and a Committee of Governors of Central
Banks to enhance consultation, cooperation and coordination on economic policies;
- Removal of barriers to trade in goods;
- Establishment of the regional legal framework for the provision of air and sea
transportation (Protocol VI).
- Heads of Government also noted that two key elements of the Grand Anse Declaration - the
Single Market and Economy and the Caribbean Court of Justice - are close to completion. In
recognising that the legal framework for the Single Market and Economy would soon be in
place, they accepted the offer of Barbados to host a special consultation on
implementing the Single Market and Economy.
The Heads of Government recognised that there were some goals still to be achieved and
set the timeframe of 1 January 2001 for substantial progress in the following areas:
(i) Governance of
Regional Institutions;
(ii) Regional Human
Resource Development ;
(iii) Labour
Mobility;
(iv) Science and
Technology development;
(v) Regional Food
Security;
(vi) Regional
Financial Institutions;
(vii) Cultural
co-operation and development;
(viii) Harmonised
development of our services sector;
(ix) Regional
Programmes to combat HIV/AIDS and Drugs;
(x) Regional
Programme for the Development of Sports.
In furtherance of this and recognising that Lead Heads of Government had already been
assigned responsibilities for the Single Market and Economy; External Negotiations;
Science and Technology; Labour Mobility; and Monetary Union, agreed that Lead Heads of
Government would be appointed to spearhead developments in the following areas:
- Services
- Environment
- Human Resource Development
- Information Technology and Telecommunications
- Justice and Governance
- Sports and Culture
- Agriculture
- Tourism
Heads of Government also agreed to explore the issuance of a common passport for
CARICOM citizens, for adoption by the year 2001. This passport will be a defining symbol
of regionalism and offer to the Caribbean people a tangible demonstration of their
identity as members of the Caribbean family.
Heads of Government, recognising the important role of civil society in the ongoing
integration process, also agreed to convene in the year 2000, an encounter catering for
the widest possible participation, under the theme Forward Together. This
forum will provide for a free and wide-ranging interchange of ideas aimed at arriving at a
consensus for a strategy for the development of the Region and its peoples.
Heads of Government further agreed that in this spirit, the Political Opposition should
be brought in as partners into the framework of the consultation in the regional
integration process.
Heads of Government agreed to review the structure and functioning of the institutions
of the Community, including its Secretariat, with a view to better equip them with the
necessary authority and capacity to discharge their responsibilities, as the Region seeks
to accelerate decision-making and implementation in the regional integration process.
They entrusted the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government, with the
responsibility of overseeing the review and restructuring process, the result of which
will be considered at the Eleventh Inter-Sessional Meeting in March 2000.
Attachment II
ASSEMBLY OF CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY PARLIAMENTARIANS
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS Venezuela continues to advance her claim to the Essequibo
Region of Guyana, a claim which amounts to no less than five-eighths of Guyana's territory;
AND WHEREAS this claim completely
disregards the fact that the existing boundary was defined by the unanimous judgment of an
international arbitral tribunal given in Paris in 1899, and jointly demarcated on the ground by officials of the United Kingdom and
Venezuela and accepted thereafter by the international community as both the de facto
and de jure boundary between Guyana and Venezuela;
NOTING that following continued
agitation by Venezuela, the Geneva Agreement signed on February 17, 1966 between the
United Kingdom, British Guiana and Venezuela established a Mixed Commission of Guyanese
and Venezuelan representatives charged with the task of seeking a satisfactory solution
for the peaceful settlement of the controversy between Venezuela and the United Kingdom
which had arisen as the result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of
1899 about the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela is null and void;
NOTING the failure of the Mixed
Commission and the further agreement by Guyana and Venezuela within the context of Article
IV(2) of the 1966 Geneva Agreement to refer the decision as to the means of settlement to
the Secretary-General of the United Nations;
NOTING that the relations
between the two countries have been conducted over recent years
in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect and through the
development of programmes of functional co-operation;
FURTHER NOTING the commitment of
the two countries to the good offices process of the UN Secretary-General;
RECOGNISING the consistent and
firm support of the Member States of the Caribbean Community for the territorial integrity
and sovereignty of Guyana and their stated desire for a peaceful settlement to the
controversy between Guyana and Venezuela;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Assembly
of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians urge the Governments of the Community to reiterate
their unwavering support for and solidarity with the Government of Guyana in the face of
the controversy;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this
Resolution be communicated to the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean
Community.
Approved by the Assembly of Caribbean Community
Parliamentarians, Grenada, this 15th day of October, 1999.
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