KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Tuesday afternoon launched the CARICOM Review Commission. The chairman of the commission is Bruce Golding, former prime minister.

In his address, Holness said, “We cannot preempt what the commission will say, but it was never the intention to lay any groundwork or chart any path out of CARICOM. This is about strengthening Jamaica’s position within the regional integration process, which is absolutely important for Jamaica’s economic growth and development for the next 50 years.”

The commission will among other things, evaluate the effects that Jamaica’s participation in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has on its economic growth and development; analyze CARICOM’s performance against the goals and objectives outlined in the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and to identify the causes of the shortcomings; assess the value of Jamaica’s membership in CARICOM on its influence in critical international fora and with third state trade and development partners; and assess whether the CARICOM dispute settlement provisions provide realistic options for settlement of disputes for Jamaica.

Comprising members from a wide cross-section including the private sector, academia, business, finance and trade unions, the first meeting of the commission will be held on Tuesday, July 5. The commission is expected to carry out its work and submit a final report within six months.