Grenadian businessman lauds ‘noble’ intention of CSME

St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): A leading Grenadian businessman says while implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy regimes may be slow, the intention behind these measures is noble.

Former Chamber of Industry and Commerce president Nigel John told WINN FM's The Bigger Picture the area of trade is one key example.

"In other words you get practice sending from Grenada to St Kitts first, before you send from Grenada to Canada," the businessman explained.

"It also permits for a gradual increase in capacities.  Obviously if you are only tooled to service a small 40,000 person market or a 100,000 person market you don't overnight all of a sudden  service a 300 million  person  market," John said.

John says the people of the region should be more involved in the CSME process, and governments should encourage this.

The businessman also contends that too many in the region don't consider themselves Caribbean citizens.

"We really don't see each other in the Caribbean, in the CARICOM in  particular as fellow citizens," he lamented.

The Grenadian businessman agrees that some aspects of the integration process are working much better than others.

He recommends much more implementation at the national level.