Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley who is due to take over the Chair of Caricom next year and who currently has lead responsibility for the Caricom Single Market and Economy has again expressed disappointment over the pace of regional integration and has lamented the level of insularity that still exists.

Addressing a high-level regional conference underway in Barbados called the Caribbean Forum on Regional Transformation for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, Ms. Mottley spoke of the relatively small population size of the various territories and their economic challenges and urged a more open-minded approach to regional integration.

Ms. Mottley warned that given its economic and other challenges the Caribbean is at risk of becoming the poorest region in the world.

She also believes Barbados does not have enough people to achieve its economic goals.