In keeping with decisions of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and of the Cabinet of Barbados, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has established a “Business Labour and Civil Society Advisory Council” (BLAC) on Caribbean integration matters.
The BLAC is intended to be a national forum for discussions among our Barbadian social partners pertaining to Caribbean integration in general and to the agenda of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in particular, and comprises representatives of commercial and business interests, labour management organizations, non-Governmental organizations (NGO’s) promoting social and economic development programmes, and other representation from civil society.
The BLAC will perform the following functions:
(a) Initiate Caribbean integration / development proposals for discussion at both the national and regional levels;
(b) Discuss and analyze Caribbean integration /development proposals emanating from CARICOM or from the Government of Barbados in relation to their impact on national sectoral interests, and develop positions and recommendations for submission to the Government of Barbados and to the CARICOM Secretariat;
(c) Make representation to the Barbados Government on Caribbean integration matters that affect their sectoral interests; and
(d) Help to develop and initiate strategies for implementing CARICOM decisions pertaining to Caribbean integration/ development.
The entire membership of BLAC will meet in a plenary session five times a year. There will be full plenary consultations before and after each CARICOM Heads of Government Conference and each annual Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM. In addition, one annual Plenary consultation will be devoted to a consideration of the overall direction, philosophy and programme of CARICOM.
In addition to such plenary consultations, specially selected and invited sub groupings of the BLAC will meet as necessary to consult on specific issues and proposed projects. Furthermore, such sub grouping consultations will also involve relevant Government officials where the presence and input of such officials would be helpful.
Plenary meetings of the BLAC will be held at the Conference Room of Barbados’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and will be chaired by Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM.
The membership of the Business Labour and Civil Society Advisory Council (BLAC) is as follows:
BUSINESS
- Barbados Private Sector Association (representing:
- Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Barbados Manufacturers’ Association
- Small Business Association
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados
- Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association and
- Barbados Coalition of Service Industries)
2. Barbados Agricultural Society
3. Barbados Cooperative and Credit Union League
4. Barbados Association of Retailers and Vendors (BARVEN)
LABOUR
5. Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations (representing:-
- National Union of Public Workers
- Barbados Union of Teachers
- Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union
- Barbados Registered Nurses’ Association
- Sugar Industry Supervisors’ Association
- Police Association
- Prison Officers Association and Fire Officers Association).
6. Barbados Workers’ Union
CIVIL SOCIETY
7. Caribbean Policy Development Centre
8. University of the West Indies
9. Barbados Council for the Disabled
10. Barbados Christian Council
11. Pan-African Coalition of Organizations
12. Caribbean Media Corporation
13. Organization of Caribbean Associations in Barbados
14. Barbados Youth Development Council
15. Barbados’ CARICOM Youth Ambassadors
16. Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP)
The National Organization of Women (NOW) has also been invited to become a member of the BLAC.
The inaugural meeting of the BLAC was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 18 February 2019.
DAVID COMISSIONG
Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM