(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) In the face of the challenges currently confronting the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Member States needed to fend more for themselves and expand intra-regional trade within the Community. This was the charge laid down by Honourable Dr. John Collin McIntyre, Minister of Employment, Trade, Industry, Consumer and Diaspora Affairs of Dominica and Chairman of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) as he spoke Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 34th Meeting of COTED in Georgetown, Guyana.

Minister McIntyre acknowledged that the deliberations were taking place against the background of the continuing fall out of the global financial and economic crisis and the sovereign debt situation being experienced in Europe.

“The signals are clear. We have to begin to “fend’ more for our own selves. We must begin to deliberately target expanded economic activity, including intra-regional trade, among ourselves. I sincerely hope that, that spirit of mutual reliance can inform our approach to all of the agenda items which we must discuss,” Dr. McIntyre said

Calling for efficiency in the way the business of the Meeting was conducted, he charged Trade Ministers and delegates not put off for tomorrow what could be done today.

“Colleagues, this meeting of the COTED takes place at a time when CARICOM is undergoing a period of introspection. Our Heads of Government gave clear indications at their Conference earlier this month in Suriname, that it was time to ask ourselves and to answer some serious questions. These questions relate to how, as an integration grouping, we organize ourselves to deliver goods and services to our people and how we promote their interests and welfare. The next twelve (12) months promise to bring interesting times and developments to the Region,” Minister McIntyre said.

He added that the COTED Meeting could continue its own process of introspection. “Maybe it is time that we agree to approach our work in the most direct manner going to the heart of the issues brought before us for discussion and decision-making. Let us not put off for tomorrow what can be done today,” the Chairman told the Meeting.

The Chair’s outlook was shared by Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, CARICOM Secretary-General who, in his statement also referred to the current mode of reform and change in the Community towards a more meaningful impact on the lives of the people.

The changes, the Secretary-General pointed out, were designed for a more effective, efficient and dynamic Community and Secretariat to deliver on the promise of a Community for all.

The impatience demonstrated by the Region’s people to enjoy integration’s benefits, the Secretary-General said, should act as an impetus to ensure that the outstanding issues hindering Community nationals including the private sector, from taking full advantage of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), be urgently resolved.

“Let us move swiftly to consolidate and strengthen our Single Market and Economy as it is critical that we collectively engage the global market, particularly in these stringent times. Even as we continue to fight to ensure that the international community takes account of our special and vulnerable circumstances, we have to put our own house in order,” Ambassador LaRocque said.

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