Bahamas Commits To Deeper Regional Integration:
By Candia Dames -

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The high cost of air travel, the impact of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and growing concerns about criminal deportees are among the issues most important to The Bahamas during the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette said Monday.

Mr. Symonette also said The Bahamas is committed to the concept of "functional cooperation", and while it is not interested in joining the Single Market or the Single Economy, it is interested in working with its CARICOM neighbours on matters where there is already clear agreement.

"We set a new tone for where we’re going to go with [the CARICOM Single Market and Economy] and the future of that whole issue," he told The Bahama Journal after participating in closed meetings with regional prime ministers and presidents.

"We’re heading toward functional cooperation in areas of health and tourism…being able to build on meaningful relationships rather than having some countries like The Bahamas that are not buying into the entire package. We’re trying to establish a whole network that we can all buy into."

Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing also spoke about The Bahamas’ role in fostering deeper regional integration. He said the talks have taken an interesting twist and that the CSME is not the focus of Caribbean cooperation, but rather a component of it where functional cooperation embraces wider issues.

"I think great progress is being made at this meeting at discussing issues that provide for a more ‘inclusionary’ environment for The Bahamas to participate in Caribbean integration and also to suggest that very real progress is being made insofar as discussing some of the critical issues that now confront us, whether that’s the passport initiative or it is the issue of the Caribbean Basin Initiative expansion," Minister Laing said.

The CBI governs the US’ relationship with the Caribbean region. Under the CBI, CARICOM member states are allowed duty free access for some goods. With one of the waivers under the CBI having expired, the US is seeking a renewal from the World Trade Organization (WTO), something which Paraguay is contesting.

Minister Laing told the Journal that The Bahamas has no difficulty being a full participant with CARICOM on issues relating to social development.

"It means then that the issues of CARICOM become more inclusive as opposed to being exclusive because you’re focusing so much on something like the CSME, which [we] and others have not bought into," Minister Laing said.

"[CSME] is not a good idea for us. The Bahamas, in recognizing the nature of its economy, in recognizing the nature of its situation insofar as illegal immigration is concerned, just does not see what CSME offers as a viable option and so we’re not suggesting that others can’t participate and find it beneficial to themselves, but it’s just not in The Bahamas’ interest. That explains why we have not gone that route."

On Sunday, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who is the immediate past chairman of CARICOM, said CARICOM heads must be concerned about addressing issues that CARICOM citizens care about.

In this regard, he pointed to the high cost of air travel.

"It is well known that the increased cost of air travel is a consequence of a moderate rise in air fares to accommodate market realities, and a more substantial hike in taxes and add-ons," Prime Minister Gonsalves said at the opening of the heads meeting in the square of the historic Barbados Parliament.

"All regional governments are obliged to address these concerns jointly and arrive at common solutions."

When he spoke with the Journal on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Symonette also agreed that the high cost of air travel is worrying.

"We have to be concerned; as you’re well aware, the previous administration had agreed to a facility charge that came into effect [on Sunday] at Lynden Pindling International Airport. There’s that whole question of adding to the cost of a vacation when the tourists can choose from the Dominican Republic, Cuba or wherever around the world they want to choose…air travel is a large part [of the expense.]."

Mr. Symonette also pointed to concerns related to criminal deportees.

"It’s a major issue for all of the nations and I think we have to look at it," he said. "On my way from Miami, I met with the officers from the consulate there and yes, it is an issue."

Mr. Symonette said he has looked at the figures in relation to Bahamian deportees and plans to eventually make them public.

"One message I would like to send is that Bahamians need to be more cognizant or more careful about abiding by the laws of the United States because we are seeing more and more deportations that have resulted sometimes from minor instances that have been cumulative."

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made an offer of a computer data base and software to CARICOM governments to assist with the management of their deportee records.

The system would allow the governments to monitor their nationals that are in the US system awaiting deportation and would allow for cross-check of deportee records as well as their criminal history and activities in the United States, according to CARICOM officials.

CARICOM heads will wrap up their meeting in Bridgetown on Wednesday.

3 July 2007