The retirement of prime ministers P J Patterson and Owen Arthur deprived the region of its elder statesmen and visionaries. The candidates to assume leadership of the region are all encumbered.
Prime Minister Patrick Manning is preoccupied with Trinidad’s transition to developed country status amidst crime and racial politics. President Bharrat Jagdeo is bogged down in the longest economic depression any country has ever endured. Prime Minister Bruce Golding is undoubtedly capable but does not have the time or inclination to dissipate energy in endeavours which have neither consensus nor timeline. Mr Gonzalves has the ambition and the intellect but cannot resist the opportunism of playing to the audience immediately in front of him.
Source: Jamaican Observer
The CARICOM Summit is currently in progress in Antigua, of interest to people in the region is whether any practical solutions will be discovered to ensure our region’s competitiveness in the new world economy. It is apparent to those who have eyes that member states of CARICOM will increasingly be marginalized if our leaders continue on its rudderless course. The outcome of today’s session at the summit about tourism will be of great interest given our region’s reliance on tourism.
There is the view that to take a snapshot of the current readiness our region to embrace CARICOM would toss-up that some countries are more comfortable with the concept than others. In the BU household we have used a simple analogy to describe the challenge for CARICOM success. There must be a courtship period to most relationships which acts as a precursor to a lasting union. During the courtship period bonding may or may not take place. After 35 years of courtship of the integration concept has any real bonding taken place, or are we prepared to reject the concept of CARICOM as currently configured?
The reality of the new world economy calls for small countries to pool resources (at times) to ensure a maximum result. The existence of NAFTA, EU and ALBA maybe instructive for Caribbean countries. We have every confidence that the framers of the model which we have for regional integration would have researched the evolution of the forementioned common markets to capture learning. The challenge for CARICOM maybe rooted in our small size and perceived diversity. Another factor maybe our disparate economies which straddle extreme levels of performance. Perhaps we should not forget deep seated insularities which still exist between islands in the North and the South.
We should note when discussing CARICOM the loyalty which has developed within the sub-region of the Eastern Caribbean territories. While the union of the OECS is a laudable achievement, the limited resources which are posited in this region restricts significant benefits which can be achieved. Recent public comment by Prime Minister Ralph Gonzales suggests that there is an attitude of swagger within the OECS grouping which may not be conducive to seamless integration to CARICOM.
The ongoing summit may prove the cynics wrong on whether we will see a fully functioning CARICOM, CSME and all in our lifetime. Some may argue that Barbados is better off assuming a Nationalist approach. In BU we have a feeling that we will see business as usual.
Is it true that our people have failed education?
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.