The media and CSME - A story from Antigua

ST JOHN'S - The Antiguan media industry is becoming a main beneficiary of the free movement provisions of the CARICOM Single Market.
And from our brief visit there, it's clear that the media can yet play a vital role in the CSME - not as mere propagandist or cheerleader - but as watchdog and economic player.
Witness the Observer Media Group, owners of the most popular newspaper and radio station in the country (full disclosure: I was once a consultant/trainer to Observer Radio's startup in 2001). Observer employs six CARICOM Skilled Nationals - its General Manager, the acclaimed regional broadcaster, Julian Rogers, a technician and four journalists, from Barbados, Grenada and St Lucia.
And the station is poised to make perhaps its biggest single contribution to regional integration yet - by going regional shortly. According to Observer's chairman, Winston Derrick, it's time to take the dialogue on CSME from the realm of politicians to the domain of the people; in doing so, the CSME will become more relevant to the day-to-day lives of Caribbean people.
Our thanks to the management and staff of Observer Media Group. We also want to thank Holly Peters of the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce for facilitating our outreach to key stakeholders in the private sector during our one-day stay in St. John's.