00:00 CARICOM leaders are continuing work to bring the region closer together through its single
00:07 market economy.
00:08 Barbados' Prime Minister Mir Motli, speaking at the closing news conference of the recently
00:13 concluded Heads of Government meeting in Guyana on Wednesday, said leaders expect to have
00:19 the matter of the mutual recognition of companies settled by the time the leaders reconvene
00:25 in Grenada in July.
00:27 "Allow people the right to move and then tell them that they have to pay separate sums to
00:34 form companies, the same company doing the same business in each of the countries that
00:39 they're going in is a burden too heavy for you to carry in a single market and single
00:46 economy."
00:47 Motli says a meeting must be had with the OECD and FATF to ensure that country listings
00:54 are not impacted by allowing companies to legally operate throughout CARICOM.
01:01 Host President of Guyana Irfan Ali explains progress is being made toward the physical
01:06 movement of persons.
01:08 "We are seeing tremendous movement in relation to our food security targets.
01:13 We are seeing progress now on the transportation front.
01:18 We're seeing greater appetite from the private sector to be part of this holistic solution.
01:28 We are seeing now, we have heard of the plans for LIAT and to have the operationalization
01:37 of LIAT within 60 days.
01:44 Six between 60 to 90 days."
01:47 But as the region moves toward full integration comes the issue of crime and criminals.
01:53 That's why Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell says heads have agreed to a CARICOM arrest
01:59 warrant.
02:00 "As it stands now, if someone is wanted in Trinidad and Tobago and find themselves in
02:07 Grenada or Barbados, it is extremely difficult for law enforcement to apprehend and return
02:14 them on the simple basis that they would not have been wanted in Grenada or Barbados for
02:20 any crime.
02:21 And so we need to make sure that criminals understand that we would not tolerate them
02:26 moving from island to island within the community to escape consequences of the actions."
02:32 Contentious maybe, but an issue this Prime Minister says must be discussed is what he
02:37 describes as the liberal approach taken to the granting of bail to repeat offenders.
02:44 Dickon says the doctrine of the separation of powers does not mean zero communication
02:49 between the executive and the judiciary.
02:51 "And so as heads we are very clear that talking and engaging with the judiciary is absolutely
02:58 necessary if we are going to address this issue of criminality within the region.
03:07 We cannot tolerate a situation where criminals commit multiple repeated offences and are
03:14 let loose on our societies.
03:19 And just so that we understand, it isn't only legitimate businessmen, women or citizens
03:27 who are moving, the criminals are also moving."
03:32 It was announced that CARICOM is working on a formula for reparations and CARIFESTER will
03:38 be held in August 2025.
03:42 Urvashi Tamori, Rupnarayan TV6 News.
03:44 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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