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IN a daring transfer towards regional transformation, Caricom has introduced sweeping plans to reform the Caribbean’s telecommunications, commerce, and training sectors — modifications poised to reshape the area’s financial and social panorama.
The regional physique introduced main plans to evaluate the consumption of US streaming large Netflix and US messaging service WhatsApp, owned by Meta, throughout the Caribbean. Prime minister of Barbados Mia Mottley revealed that Caricom is within the exploratory part of figuring out how the area can profit from the excessive utilization of those platforms, which at the moment contribute little to no income to the Caribbean financial system.
“Many people use WhatsApp, Netflix — all of these items for which there’s little to no cost. The truth is that these entities earn as a lot as US$11.6 billion a yr, but they pay no taxes and make no contribution in any technique to the regional financial system,” Mottley acknowledged on the closing press convention of the forty eighth Common Assembly of the Convention of Heads of Authorities of Caricom on Friday.
She famous that this lack of income has hindered telecommunications corporations from reinvesting in strengthening the Caribbean’s telecommunications infrastructure. The announcement follows a complete evaluate of the telecommunications setting carried out by the Caribbean Non-public Sector Organisation (CPSO) which included non-Caricom territories such because the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, attributable to their important function in regional telecommunications.
“We’re aware that the Caribbean, as small states, has larger telecommunications prices than we wish to see, in contrast with different areas,” Mottley stated.
To handle this imbalance, Caricom has tasked premier of Nevis, Mark Brantley; prime minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell; and Mottley, in her function as chair, to discover methods that will guarantee equity to each customers and suppliers whereas fostering a aggressive setting. On the similar time, Caricom can be bracing for potential US tariff modifications that would reshape commerce relations between the Caribbean and the US. Jamaica’s Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness emphasised that whereas such modifications would possibly disrupt routine commerce, additionally they current important alternatives for the area.
“With these modifications, the considerations shouldn’t solely be about disruptions within the regular routine of commerce but in addition concerning the nice alternatives they may current for the area,” Holness famous.
In urging companies and personal stakeholders to not panic, Holness highlighted that Caricom’s well-established commerce negotiation mechanism is actively learning potential challenges and guiding member governments on structuring commerce insurance policies to mitigate dangers, whereas capitalising on alternatives.
“We’re coping with hypothesis proper now as to what the tariffs might be; there’s been no announcement particular to the Caricom area. What we’re being is proactive and ready,” Holness added.
Holness assured that Caricom expects to finish an in depth evaluate inside three to 4 months. The ensuing coverage doc will supply strategic recommendation to member governments, guaranteeing the area is ready to barter if vital.
Along with telecommunications and commerce, Caricom can be embarking on important academic reforms. Prime Minister Mottley revealed that the group will set up a Caricom Instructional Transformation Fee to revamp the area’s academic programs. The fee will oversee modifications to how secondary highschool CXC examinations are carried out, and develop new academic targets aligned with the wants of the fashionable Caribbean.
“All of us settle for that our academic programs are usually not match for objective. They have been designed for a colonial interval, with a hierarchical construction that solely noticed just a few of our folks and never all of our folks,” Mottley acknowledged.
The reforms prolong to tertiary training as effectively. Caricom Instructional Transformation Fee has agreed to fee work on a treaty to successfully repatriate The College of the West Indies (The UWI), ending its governance beneath a royal constitution — an association Mottley described as outdated in right this moment’s period.
“The time has come now,” Mottley declared.
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