CARICOM: Realities and hope after Port-of-Spain Summit

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Chroncile - WITH the conclusion last evening of the 34th annual Heads of Government Conference in Trinidad and Tobago, we can expect to officially learn today of new initiatives, if any, taken during the three days of meetings and activities focused on the future of CARICOM now in its 40th year of existence.
Following Wednesday’s ceremonial opening, the leaders were engaged in a “commemoration” ceremony at Chaguaramas, designed to recall the historic signing -- at the same venue -- of the  CARICOM Treaty by a quartet of then Prime Ministers (all since passed away)  to make possible what largely now exists, with varying dimensions, as our economic integration movement.
On Friday, at their tightly guarded retreat at Point-a-Pierre (a famous central hub for the twin-island state’s vital energy sector), Heads of Government were locked in intensive discussion at which tough but necessary decisions were  expected on too often postponed initiatives to achieve the primary objectives of the elusive single market and  economy (CSME).