Jamaica’s rural agricultural producers will soon be more equipped to benefit from the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). This is due to a one-day CSME sensitization workshop to be convened by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat this Wednesday, November 30. Approximately 40 participants from agricultural bodies and related public sector entities will converge at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville, Manchester for the event. The activity is facilitated under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and Economic Integration Programme (EIP). This represents a valuable opportunity for rural producers to gain information about the CSME and learn about its significant advantages for their sector.

Presentations will be delivered by resource persons from the CARICOM Secretariat and will include topics such as the current status of the CSME and facilitating agricultural trade and investment in the CSME. There will also be a presentation on the status of Jamaica’s implementation of the CSME and particularly as it relates to agriculture. The presentations will be followed by dialogue sessions in which participants can share their experiences and clarify issues surrounding the CSME. At the end of the workshop, participants should have a better appreciation of the benefits of the CSME for farmers and agricultural producers generally. This workshop marks the culmination of a series of CSME-sensitization sessions for the private sector and rural communities in 6 member states including Barbados, Belize, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.

Jamaica will also benefit from an additional CSME sensitization activity when the Secretariat hosts a public awareness session on the facilitation of travel on Thursday, December 1 at Merl Grove High School. Participants will be informed about their rights and responsibilities as CARICOM nationals travelling within the CSME for work, leisure or business.