\nThursday, August 28 2008
\nnewsday.co.tt<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n
PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning yesterday defended his moves to form a regional political union calling it \u201ca coalition of the willing\u201d and saying the current mechanisms of Caricom \u201care too slow\u201d to achieve the urgent goal of regional integration.<\/p>\n
In a move that will deepen concerns over the proposed political union between this country, Grenada, St Vincent and St Lucia and its relationship with Caricom, Manning told reporters that the existing mechanisms in Caricom would not allow economic integration to take place at the required pace given worldwide developments which threaten the future prosperity of the region.
\n
\n\u201cWe feel that the Caricom process is too slow. We are trying to accelerate it and take it further,\u201d Manning said, echoing the views expressed in an August 10 proposal for political union drafted by Professor Vaughn Lewis and Ambassador Cuthbert Joseph. <\/p>\n
Manning also downplayed the refusal of Jamaica and Belize to join his proposed political union, saying this was never the purpose of a two-day trip which saw him travel about 6,000 miles and visit four countries in 36 hours as he held in personam talks with regional leaders. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not inviting anybody to join. Whoever wishes to join is free to come forward, it\u2019s on the table to all,\u201d Manning said, adding, \u201cthere was never any question of us being blanked.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s a coalition of the willing…any country that\u2019s willing to come we\u2019ll welcome them, but we are not inviting anybody to join,\u201d the Prime Minister said cryptically. <\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that nobody writes anymore of Manning being blanked,\u201d he added. \u201cNobody blanked Manning or any such thing…(These countries) are not opposed, they are just are unable to join.\u201d <\/p>\n
Jamaica, Belize and, now, Suriname, have said no to Manning\u2019s union. <\/p>\n
The Prime Minister said the political union would be crucial for this country, in light of the end of trade conditions which had previously isolated the region from the effects of competitive global trading. He pointed out that markets of the countries Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) block were this country\u2019s second largest and this was part of the rationale of the union. <\/p>\n
\u201cA number of countries are investing in those countries of the eastern Caribbean. And there are a lot of dividends being remitted to our own country that strengthens our economy,\u201d the Prime Minister said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes no sense for small countries…to stay as individual disparate territories, especially in the context of changed economic circumstances in the world.\u201d <\/p>\n
Manning pointed out that preferential access to the markets of Europe, had long expired, the preferential quota access and pricing are no longer existent. Non-reciprocity in trade is also now gone, Manning also said, alluding to a key issue at the heart of the signing of the European Partnership Agreement (EPA). <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not a question of one country carrying the other, it is a question of all of us getting together…For those who feel TT is such a strong economy let us experience a natural disaster and see how independent we are,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is not us carrying them, they carry us also.\u201d <\/p>\n
Several models for the union would be considered, Manning said, by a special committee comprising the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance. He said the proposed union might see a common army, currency and common security arrangements such as an anti-drug patrol in the southern Caribbean. The issue of political union will also be debated in Parliament. <\/p>\n
Manning flagged the need, however, for adequate consultation on the issue to take place with the population, saying, \u201cthe populations of the country would be brought into the process.\u201d But once more he blanked the idea of holding a referendum on the issue, saying cryptically that the population would be \u201cconsulted\u201d via the next general election, due one year before the achievement of the union.<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.newsday.co.tt\/politics\/0,85179.html<\/p>\n
Related News:<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n
Jamaica PM formally rejects regional political union<\/a> <\/p>\n Jamaica, Belize blank PM<\/a> Jamaica PM rejects integration initiative<\/a> Golding: Count us out<\/a> Hurricane Gustav dampens unity talks<\/a><\/p>\n Gustav stops Haiti visit<\/a> Mr Manning’s mystery plan<\/a><\/b> Manning: I was not ‘blanked’ Bas: No need for jet ride PM: T&T will vote on political union in 2012<\/a> Warner slams Manning after ‘regional rejection’<\/a> \u2018It\u2019s a coalition of the willing\u2019 By Andre Bagoo Thursday, August 28 2008 newsday.co.tt PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning yesterday defended his moves to form a regional political union calling it \u201ca coalition of the willing\u201d and saying the current mechanisms of Caricom \u201care too slow\u201d to achieve the urgent goal of regional integration. In a … Continue reading Regional Integration<\/span>
\nJAMAICA and Belize have refused to be a part of Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s proposed political union, notwithstanding the Prime Minister’s two-day whirlwind Caribbean tour \u2013which saw him touch down in some Caribbean countries for mere hours\u2013 aimed at furthering talks on the controversial union.<\/p>\n
\nJamaica has joined Belize in officially rejecting Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s initiative to establish economic and political union among Caricom nations.<\/p>\n
\nManning in Jamaica pursuing political union<\/p>\n
\nPrime Minister Patrick Manning and the rest of the T&T delegation, including Foreign Affairs Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon, were forced to cancel yesterday’s visit to Haiti because of Hurricane Gustav.<\/p>\n
\nThe trouble with commenting responsibly and sensibly on the integration plan – economic and political – that Prime Minister Patrick Manning has been flying around selling is that we, that is, the people of Trinidad and Tobago, have no idea what is in it. As such we can only weigh in on the manner he has gone about promoting this plan to the particular prime ministers – all else remains in the realm of speculation.<\/p>\n
\n‘…no negotiations, just coalition of the willing’<\/a>
\nPrime Minister Patrick Manning says he was not “blanked” by Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who said their countries were not interested in the proposed political union between Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries. <\/p>\n
\n…knocks PM for not using e-mail, phone<\/a>
\nDid Prime Minister Patrick Manning have to spend US$19,000 an hour of taxpayers’ money to inform and sensitise the prime ministers of Jamaica, Belize, Suriname and Bahamas to his unity proposal?<\/p>\n
\nPrime Minister Patrick Manning says the 2012 general election will be used as a “referendum” for his initiative to establish political union with Eastern Caribbean and other Caricom states by 2013.<\/p>\n
\nChaguanas West MP Jack Warner is again chiding Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s regional integration thrust.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"