Community Online Platform Systems launched

THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat has launched four online platforms. These online platforms have been developed to help make the benefits of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) more accessible to CARICOM nationals.

The electronic platforms launched yesterday at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre are: The Labour Market Information Systems; the regional platform for Online Companies’ Registries; the Community Public Procurement Notice Board and National Advertising Portals for 13 Member States; and the CARICOM Rapid Alert System for the Exchange of Information on Dangerous (non-food) Consumer Goods (CARREX) Upgraded Platform and Public Portal.

They are intended to provide an online database and repository of regional labour market statistics; public procurement opportunities; information on the registration of companies, business names and other entities; and alerts and notifications on dangerous and harmful products in the Community.

During the official launch of the systems, Dr. Stephen L. Boyce, Programme Manager (Education & Employment), Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS, and CARICOM/CARIFORUM, highlighted: “The European Union is extremely pleased to have invested in the development of these four critical pieces of technology through the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) financed CSME and Economic Integration Programme.

“We believe the systems represent an important step forward in the realisation of the Single CARICOM ICT Space as part of the CARICOM Digital Agenda 2015; and serve as a key enabler to building technological resilience in the region through the CARICOM Regional Strategic Plan 2014-2019. Individually, effective use of each of these platforms can realise significant benefits to the region.”

Ambassador Manorma P. Soeknandan, PhD., Deputy Secretary General of CARICOM, stated on behalf of the Community, “I thank the EU for its sterling contribution to regional integration and contribution to the Caribbean Community through its direct financial and other forms of assistance over the past many decades.

“The overall objective of the 10th EDF Programme is to support the beneficial integration of the CARICOM Member States into the global economy through the advancement of the CSME and to advance regional and sectoral policies.”

CARICOM officials added, “The implementation of these online platforms is expected to facilitate greater access to services provided by the agencies in the Member States and the Community. This should assist in improving efficiency at the institutional levels and help these government agencies provide a better service to nationals of the Community as part of the thrust of making the benefits of the CSME more accessible to CARICOM nationals.

“These systems should also enhance the ease of doing business and provide the public with access to services at a reasonable cost. For example, the online companies’ registry with all its functionalities will undoubtedly give CARICOM nationals a platform to access information as part of the Rights of Establishment regime, to do some searches for business names and other relevant information, and where the functionality exists in member states, allow for making payments online on the national companies’ registry for these services.”

Meanwhile Ambassador to CARICOM, Robert “Bobby” Morris, said: “The EU has allowed CARICOM to make significant strides under the 10th EDF and we are celebrating some measure of success through collaboration between two of the world’s leading integration services – the EU and CARICOM.” (NB)