Posted on Fri, Jul. 04, 2008

St. JOHN'S, Antigua -- With at least one of his colleagues criticizing the lack of progress being made by the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding is standing behind the regional trade bloc. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have his own criticism.

Golding Friday criticized the extensive agenda -- from crime and security and higher food prices to aviation and tourism -- confronting Caribbean leaders at their summit.

''The agenda was much too heavy,'' he told reporters.

Earlier in the week, as the four-day summit opened, Golding reiterated his island nation's commitment to CARICOM. This was his first regular meeting of the Caribbean bloc following his election last year in Jamaica.

''`We are determined to play our part in advancing the ideals of this movement,'' he said.

Prior to the summit St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves created controversy by saying CARICOM was slow at achieving integration and making other decisions because it was hampered by a ''ramshackle political apparatus.'' Instead of acting like one body, he said, member countries acted like ``a community of sovereign nations.''

-- Jacqueline Charles