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Thursday, February 16, 2012
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has been speaking about the future of the regional integration movement and has written Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General Irwin LaRocque on the crisscrossing poles emerging within the 15-member grouping.
Dr Gonsalves noted that there could be more strain on the regional integration movement since various Caribbean nations intend to join the Venezuela-led Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) as well as the Peoples Trade Treaty (TCP).
I happen to know that other countries, or political parties of other countries, including some which are in opposition, are expressing an interest to join ALBA, Gonsalves said. However, he noted the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) here has made it clear that, in government, it will withdraw from ALBA and its petroleum facility, PetroCaribe.
He also said Caricom is negotiating a trade development agreement with Canada.
Thats another crosscutting development that is going to take place. People who want to stay in their little part of the world are not going to survive. They are going to be dinosaurs, Gonsalves told reporters.
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