The Bahamas’ decision not to join the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) will hinder the progress of CARICOM, said the Washington based Council on Hemispheris Affairs.
The council was commenting on the Bahamas’ rejection of the Revised Treaty Chaguaramas, which provides for the creation of the CSME, at a CARICOM Heads of Government summit in St. Lucia this month.
However, Bahamian Ambassador to CARICOM Leonard Archer said the statement amkes the Bahamas appear more important than it is in relation to the establishment of the CSME.
The comment by Council on Hemispheric Affairs, prepared by COHA research associate Anita Joseph and published yesterday, claimed that without the support of the region’s wealthiest economy, the CSME would be “fatally hobbled”.
“The effectiveness of the CSME is dubious since the Bahamas’ abstention, arguably though it might be beneficial to the country itself, undermines the efforts for unified economic prospects for the rest of the Caribbean Community,” the comment said.
Mr. Archer said CARICOM will progress as it did before and the Bahamas will still be relevant to the regional bloc.
He said that thus far, he is not aware of any hard feelings being expressed by members of the community because of the Bahamas’ decision.
“That does not mean that there isn’t any.”
Source: Rupert Missick, The Tribune
