KINGSTON, Jamaica - The debilitating state of CARICOM affairs echoes the increasing level of despair by its citizens who helplessly witness the official bungling by regional governments, who appear impotent in search of a constructive and progressive plan for the redemption of CARICOM. Not since the publication of the West Indies Commission Time for Action has there been any worthy recommendation which can remedy the political and economic malaise that now prevails. When one observes the number of European countries, in addition to Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal, whose economies have been ruined by official incompetence, it is not beyond belief that such mismanagement has been responsible for the deterioration in the quality of governance in CARICOM. We therefore welcome Minister AJ Nicholson's announcement that there is to be a reorientation of CARICOM as a regional integration movement, and he has appealed for private sector participation. He is quoted as issuing the following invitation to the private sector: "We would welcome a paper from the private sector with proposals on how this sector and Government should collaborate to make regional integration a success and contribute to the economic growth and development of Jamaica and the region". (Sunday Gleaner May 19)