Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer

Patterson

Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson is recommending that the region look to cricket as a base for expanding the services industry.

He says the Caribbean must make profound changes to its productivity in order to be more competitive, and expanding the services sector was a direction regional states should follow.

Patterson, who was addressing awardees at Scotiabank's long-service awards at the Hilton hotel in New Kingston, was speaking against the background of the expected opening up of Caribbean economies through the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.

The EPA, which is set to replace the old Lomé Convention of the 1970s, encourages reciprocal trade between Europe and CARIFORUM (Caribbean Community states and the Dominican Republic).

"We have to make profound changes in our productive priorities and, particularly, we have to greatly increase our productive capacity in the area of services," the former statesman urged.

He said that services accounted for more than 50 per cent of the total value of international trade and the Caribbean had a comparative advantage in several unique areas of the sector that could add value if the process of innovation and product development is driven.

"Most of the economies in the region today have already begun the journey of transformation to become more services oriented," Patterson commented.

The former prime minister pointed out that there is further potential in areas such as construction, medicine, education and other professional services.

Special brand

Patterson, who last year chaired a three-man committee commissioned by the West Indies Cricket Board to review the state of regional cricket and make recommendations, says the region has a special brand that is loved around the world.

"What we have to do is promote the Caribbean brand of West Indies cricket and that extends beyond playing the game in all its forms," he recommended.

Patterson said the Caribbean can involve itself in the training of coaches for export as well as manufacturing bats, balls, wickets and other cricket equipment.

"We can go even further and involve ourselves in the attendant services, including the culinary delights," he said.

gareth.manning@gleanerjm.com