GEORGETOWN (CMC):
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders have adopted a protocol that should create opportunities to further the principles, goals and objectives of the community through enhanced cooperation, according to a statement issued by the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat.
It said that the “Protocol to amend the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy to allow enhanced cooperation among member states and to address related issues” was approved at the recent inter-sessional meeting in Belize earlier this month.
“It provides for groups of at least three member states to seek to establish enhanced cooperation among themselves in areas where they feel the targeted objectives cannot be attained within a reasonable period by the community as a whole. Approval to pursue the enhanced cooperation will require the support of two-thirds of the membership of the community,” the secretariat added.
It said that decisions adopted in the specific areas of enhanced cooperation will only be binding on the participating member states and the rights and obligations created will be solely for those member states and their nationals.
“Established areas of enhanced cooperation will, however, be open to other member states, subject to compliance with the conditions of participation and the decisions already adopted,” the CARICOM secretariat said, adding that the protocol takes effect after ratification by the signatories to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
It said Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and Grenada have signed the protocol.