Barbados PM: No Doubt About Jamaica’s Commitment to CARICOM

Above: Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Caribbean integration is alive and well and on a clear path to development, according to Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.

The Prime Minister, who was speaking Wednesday following the first day of the 33rd Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in St Lucia, also denied any questions about Jamaica’s desire to remain in the bloc.

“I don’t think anybody can be in doubt now about the commitment of the government of Jamaica to the regional integration process,” Stuart said.

Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has said the Caribbean “cannot stop” the integration movement, given what she said was its importance to all member states.

Domestically, some in Jamaica have raised concerns over the movement, given large trade imbalances with other countries in the region, notably Trinidad and Tobago.

“As I indicated [Tuesday], Jamaica was one of the signatories to the Treaty of Chaguaramas,” Stuart said. “[Jamaica] has, from then until now, with varying degrees of intensity, committed itself to the regional integration movement.”