At this our Tenth Meeting here in Grenada, we, the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community inspired by the spirit of cooperation and solidarity among us are moved by the need to work expeditiously together to deepen the integration process and strengthen the Caribbean Community in all of its dimensions to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by the changes in the global economy. Accordingly, we set out a work programme and specific initiatives to be implemented over the next four years.
The Common Market
We are determined to work towards the establishment, in the shortest possible time, of a single market and economy for the Caribbean Community. To that end, we shall ensure that the following steps are taken not later than 4 July 1993, taking into account the need for the continuance of Special Measures for the LDCs:
- The three Common Market Instruments required by the Treaty of Chaguaramas — the Common External Tariff, the Rules of Origin, and a Harmonised Scheme of Fiscal Incentives — fully revised, agreed and effective by January 1991.
- Customs cooperation and our Customs Administrations strengthened to prepare ourselves for movement towards a Customs Union.
- The signature by all of us to the Agreement establishing the CARICOM Industrial Programming Scheme (CIPS) by 30 September 1989.
- The enactment, by January 1990, of the legislation required to give effect to CIPS and the CARICOM Enterprise Regime (CER).
- A scheme for the movement of capital introduced by 1993 starting with the cross-listing and trading of securities on existing stock exchanges.
- Technical work to commence immediately on the establishment of a regional Equity/Venture Capital Fund.
- The CARICOM Multilateral Clearing Facility strengthened and re-established for current and capital transactions by December 1990.
- Further arrangements for intensifying consultation and cooperation on monetary, financial and exchange rate policies by July 1990.
- The removal of all remaining barriers to trade by July 1991.
- Immediate activation of Article 39 of the Annex to the Treaty of Chaguaramas in order to promote consultation, cooperation and coordination of policies at the macro-economic, sectoral and project levels.
- Arrangements by January 1991 for the free movement of skilled and professional personnel as well as for contract workers on a seasonal or project basis.
- Immediate and continuing action to develop, by 4 July 1992, a regional system of air and sea transportation including the pooling of resources by existing air and sea carriers conscious that such a system is indispensable to the development of a Single Market and Community.
- Greater collective effort for joint representation in international economic negotiations and the sharing of facilities and offices to this end, with immediate effect.
Development Issues
In examining the longer term prospects for development, we recognize the primary importance of Human Resource Development and the expansion of scientific and technological capability to the modernisation of the regional economy.
Accordingly, we adopted the resolution in Annex I on Human Resource Development and the University of the West Indies (UWI) which among other things recognises the pivotal role of the UWI and enshrines our commitment that it shall continue indefinitely as a regional institute.
Human Resource Development is of special value in the exploitation of new opportunities arising in the services sector through the development of information technology. We consider these possibilities to hold significant potential for economic growth and development. Accordingly, we shall initiate immediately consultations with the private sector, trade unions and educational institutions to determine the specific strategies for taking full advantage of these opportunities.
We are conscious that people, rather than institutions, are the creators and producers of development. We acknowledge the special roles of the private sector, the trade union movement, the regional universities, the religious organisations, women and youth organisations, the various professions, other non-governmental organisations and people of all walks and conditions of life in moving CARICOM forward.
In this connection, we agree to take the following steps:
i. The establishment of an Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians and of a Ministerial group to work out the modalities.
ii. The establishment of an Independent West Indian Commission for Advancing the Goals of the Treaty of Chaguaramas as agreed in the Resolution at Annex II.
iii. The convening of a Caribbean Economic Conference as agreed in the Resolution at Annex III.
iv. The elimination, by December 1990, of the requirement for passports for CARICOM nationals travelling to other CARICOM countries.
v. The elimination of the requirement for work permits for CARICOM nationals beginning with the visual and performing arts, sports and the media travelling to CARICOM countries for specific regional events.
vi. The organising of a series of events around 1992 to highlight our achievements in the areas of sports, the performing arts, literature and other areas of cultural endeavour, business and commerce and education. The series will commence with the staging of CARIFESTA in 1991 and include a major Trade Fair early in 1992 in Trinidad and Tobago.
We are acutely aware of the fragility of the environment on which our economies rest and of the myriad threats to that environment from internal and external actions and activities. To protect our environment, we support all international initiatives to safeguard the global environment and strongly endorse the Port-of-Spain Accord on the Management and Conservation of the Caribbean Environment by our own Ministers responsible for conservation of the Environment.
Machinery for Intergovernmental Consultations
In order to ensure the full and timely implementation of the programme set out above, we shall intensify and make more frequent the contact and consultations among ourselves. We shall meet as often as necessary to advance the decision making and the implementation of this programme.
Issued at the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, Grand Anse, Grenada, July 1989.