ABSTRACT
Trade is recognized as a catalyst for economic development. It follows therefore that public procurement, as a vehicle to facilitate trade, can be a major driver for national development. The small economies of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) face several challenges in achieving economic integration and economic development. These include geographic location and spread, physical and population size, import dependency as well as dependency on tourism and few export markets, transportation (air and sea) and customs, among other issues. The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is to be governed by two key principles: non-discrimination on grounds of nationality only; and most favored nation (MFN) treatment, which prohibits treating a third country better than another CARICOM Member State. Beyond the conduct of fiduciary diagnostics, the international development partners (IDPs) have not substantially coordinated their interventions in the Caribbean region and have been working largely in isolation.
