CARICOM's "lax accountability" can be illustrated through several concrete examples:
As a major CARICOM member and funder, one would have thought that Trinidad and Tobago's government would have been trying to fix the flaws over the past ten years, but T&T lacked leadership. "The area and organization are not flawless. Within any region or group, there will be imperfections, even in the United States.“
I think that it is unfortunate that Trinidad and Tobago has been thrust into this position. Soon we may hear some kind of statement suggesting that the way forward for Trinidad and Tobago is to leave Caricom because that seems to be the direction Kamla is going.” T&T is looking at exporting to world markets, diversifying, and developing from an oil/gas-based economy. The Manning years at T&T should have been the beginning of this. After visiting Ghana, the previous administration made the decision to trade in plantains, yams, dasheen, and cassava.
Concrete examples of concern:
Free Movement of People: The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas includes provisions for the free movement of skilled nationals among member states. However, many countries impose unilateral restrictions on the entry of Caribbean nationals, often citing security or economic concerns
Visa Restrictions: Certain member states have implemented visa requirements or other barriers that contravene the agreed-upon free movement principles, making it challenging for Caribbean nationals to work or travel within the region.
Failure to Enforce Treaties: The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which forms the basis of CARICOM, has been repeatedly violated by member states. For example, member states frequently impose ad hoc restrictions that violate the treaty's provisions, ignoring issues pertaining to the free movement of people and goods under the CSME.
Absence of Dispute Resolution Mechanism: Violations of agreements frequently go unpunished due to the lack of a strong mechanism to handle complaints among member states. A culture of impunity with regard to treaty obligations may result from this lack of enforcement.
Ineffective Monitoring Systems: CARICOM has few systems in place to keep an eye on member states' compliance with established policies. The bloc's objectives for economic integration are undermined by economic agreements that have not been fully implemented or monitored for compliance.
Political Interference: Collective commitments are frequently subordinated to political interests. Policies may be applied inconsistently if member states put domestic concerns ahead of regional commitments. For example, national leaders may disregard regional accords in favour of immediate political benefits.
Limited Civil Society Engagement: The accountability of member states and CARICOM as a whole is hampered by insufficient engagement with civil society and non-state actors. The public may not be able to hold leaders responsible for poor policy execution as a result.
Regional Policy Inconsistencies: Differences in how member states implement regional policies show a lack of accountability. For instance, different nations may interpret and apply CSME regulations differently, which could result in misunderstandings and uneven application.
Human Rights Issues: CARICOM's reaction to violations of human rights in its member nations has frequently been passive. For example, the organization's unwillingness to address human rights abuses in Venezuela shows a failure to hold member states responsible for acts that go against democratic and governance ideals.
These instances demonstrate basic flaws in CARICOM's accountability systems, which undermine member state confidence and reduce the organization's overall efficacy.
Sarge