CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):

Former St Lucia Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony has called on the region to complete the journey towards the creation of a Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Dr Anthony, who is now leader of the opposition St Lucia Labour Party, said that the creation of the CSME had been made even more urgent in light of the current global economic downturn.

No widespread enthusiasm

However, he told reporters here Wednesday he was disappointed that there was currently no widespread enthusiasm for the CSME, which is due for full implementation by 2015.

Instead, he said some Eastern Caribbean countries, including St Lucia, appeared to be more focused on pursuing a political union with Trinidad and Tobago by 2013.

Dr Anthony also sought to assess the initial reaction of regional countries to the worsening global economic situation, stating that their first response was one of denial with some suggesting that there would be little impact on the region.

However, he said those same countries have been forced to realise that they are, in fact, facing the biggest contraction of their economies in recent times.

"It seems to me that this is the time when the region needs the collective wisdom of the heads of government and that does not seem to be forthcoming," lamented Anthony.

"You are not getting a sense that these heads have decided that the region is in a serious situation and we need to speak to civil society, the people of the region and political parties across the ideological spectrum and bring the Caribbean Community together as we confront this economic crisis which clearly is of immense proportion," he said.

Decisive leadership

Rather than harbouring doubt about the viability of the CSME, he reiterated an earlier suggestion that the region needed clear and decisive leadership on the issue.

In addition, he called for major regional initiatives such as the Caribbean Court of Justice to be fully functional.