Remarks by Dr. Carla N. Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General, | Opening, Fifty-Ninth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development| Georgetown, Guyana| 27 November 2024

'As this COTED deliberates, we are reminded that the framers of the Revised Treaty sought to be careful to strike the right balance between the common interests of the Community and the interests of Member States within our Community of sovereign states. They did not intend to promote winners and losers; rather, the objective is a Community that supports enhanced trade, investment, integration of production, and development for all.' - Dr. Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General

• Honourable Ruben Meade, Premier of Montserrat, who is joining us for his first Meeting of the COTED, since assuming office;

• Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry of Trinidad and Tobago, and Chair of Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED);

• Other Ministers and Heads of Delegations;

• Heads and Other Representatives of Regional Institutions;

• Colleagues of the CARICOM Secretariat;

• Distinguished Delegates;

• Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a pleasure to welcome you to this Fifty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED). The agenda before us is extensive, covering important regional trade, economic integration, and development issues.

As this COTED deliberates, we are reminded that the framers of the Revised Treaty sought to be careful to strike the right balance between the common interests of the Community and the interests of Member States within our Community of sovereign states. They did not intend to promote winners and losers; rather, the objective is a Community that supports enhanced trade, investment, integration of production, and development for all.

I am pleased to note this COTED has several items on which progress has been made. There are others for which finalisation of work is possible, including the reports on the review of the Common External Tariff (CET) and the Rules of Origin; the report on the Draft Rules of Procedure for the COTED; and preparation for further negotiations with Colombia.

On Free Movement of Skills, the reports of progress in implementing all the approved categories and consideration of the addition of aviation personnel is encouraging. These efforts will strengthen the free movement of skills regime, as the action to implement the Conference’s decision on full free movement continues to percolate.

I am also pleased to note that there has been progress in the work on Article 164 measures. Article 164 recognises that participation in the Single Market and Economy must accommodate the diverse interests and circumstances of all Member States.

Similarly, the Partial Scope Agreements before this COTED remind us that the Treaty is designed to support individual Member States in building bilateral trade arrangements that respond to their particular circumstances. I therefore encourage Ministers to apply the guidelines provided by Article 80 of the Treaty, in expediting the consideration of these proposed agreements.

Madam Chair, I urge the 59^th COTED to adopt realistic and practical decisions on which all in the Community can rely. The Treaty provides specific pathways to address national challenges, including through deferrals and derogations that are agreed among Member States. Taking this approach ensures predictability for stakeholders and the people of the Community. It removes the uncertainty that arises when agreed commitments and obligations are disregarded or referred to consultations and indeterminate processes.

Senior Officials have done a commendable job of addressing the technical issues.  Their report provides a solid basis for Ministers to address significant policy questions and deliver actionable decisions, having due regard to the Treaty requirement to address the budgetary implications of all decisions at the time of adoption. This is essential to counter any tendency for decision implementation to be deferred and delayed for lack of resources.

Finally, Madam Chair, I urge this COTED to make full use of the Treaty’s rules and flexibilities as it addresses the matters on the table, especially the most sensitive. I am confident that under your leadership, and with the valuable contribution of the Ministers and other Heads of Delegations present, we will deliver a successful outcome from this 59^th Meeting of the Council.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.