Competition Policy: Implications for CARICOM Single Market and Economy

Abstract

The Caribbean Community is faced with a dilemma. The dilemma is that on the one hand Caricom must create, promote, and support economic scale enterprises which can face the consequences and meet the challenge posed by trade liberalisation and globalisation. The consequences and challenges include defending domestic markets and entereing competing, maintaining a presence and expanding market share in the global market place. On the other hand there is the need for competent intervention in markets to protect competition, to preserve market space for small and micro enterprises, to protect consumer interests and to defend the rights which have been extended by the Treaty to all CARICOM natural and legal persons. The rights in question provide in substance for natural and legal persons to enter and participate in all aspects of economic activity of the Community on fair and non-discriminatory terms irrespective of country of origin.