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Jamaica JOINS the USA to Snub Caricom, Again

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The blogmaster has been observing the blowback to the visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Jamaica where a few countries in the region were invited to participate. Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s triggered the exchanges when she announced what any sensible person in the region should support.

I am conscious that if this country does not stand for something, then it will fall for anything,” she said. “As chairman of Caricom, it is impossible for me to agree that my foreign minister should attend a meeting with anyone to which members of Caricom are not invited.

Prime Minister of Barbados – Mia Mottley

Prime Minister Holness of Jamaica gave a flowery and empty explanation in response to Prime Minister Mottley and other countries in the region that took exception to the snub by Jamaica and the USA to CARICOM. Jamaica has the right as a sovereign nation to pursue bilateral initiatives with another country – why did Holness feel compelled to state an obvious point? The issue Mr. Prime Minister Holness is that Jamaica is a member of CARICOM. What is CARICOM you may ask? Here is a snippet to serve as a reminder:

…CARICOM rests on four main pillars: economic integration; foreign policy coordination;human and social development; and security.  These pillars  underpin  the  stated objectives of our  Community –

  •  to improve standards of living and work;
  •  the full employment of labor and other factors of production;
  •  accelerated, coordinated and sustained economic development and convergence;
  •  expansion of trade and economic relations with Third States;
  •  enhanced levels of international competitiveness;
  •  organization for increased production and productivity;
  • achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage;
  • effectiveness of Member States in dealing with Third States, groups of States and entities of any description;and
  • the enhanced coordination of Member States’ foreign and foreign economic policies and enhanced functional cooperation…

Caricom.org

The post meeting briefing was littered with references to CARICOM which confirm matters pertaining to the regional movement were discussed. This supports Mottley’s position that Caricom should have been FORMALLY accorded an invitation and at ‘minimum’ Mottley as Chair represent members in the spirit of enhancing coordination of Member States’ foreign and foreign economic policies and enhanced functional cooperation…

The quote from the St. Kitts and Nevis representative Foreign Affairs Minister Mark Brantley sums up the current state of Caricom for the blogmaster:-

I think we would have been foolish to pass up on that opportunity. The US has been a good friend to the region, and I think it is a relationship that matters,” he said, while acknowledging that St Kitts and Nevis was not at the table for earlier talks between US President Donald Trump and a select regional group in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, centred on trade and security.

The Gleaner

A reminder this is the second time the USA snubbed Caricom.

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124 responses to “Jamaica JOINS the USA to Snub Caricom, Again”

  1. Freedom Crier Avatar
    Freedom Crier

    What Freedom thinks is missing here is that CARICOM is a TRADING BLOC to enable the CARICOM Countries with better Industrial and Agricultural Goods and Services to Encourage the Development of all the CARICOM islands and Lands through their Association…

    It is NOT a Political Union. Each Country is Sovereign that means that Ms Mottley can only speak on Political Matters for Barbados. Her attempting to Speak on behalf of all the Caribbean Sovereign Islands is trying to Elevate herself as the Prime Minister of the West Indies. Clearly, she is NOT! SHE HAS NO RIGHT TO SPEAK FOR ALL THE CARICOM MEMBERS ON POLITICAL ISSUES AS CARICOM IS STILL ONLY A TRADING PARTNERSHIP. And as for questions here on this Blog as to what America has done for us Lately is trying to make us a Victims looking for handouts a Typical Leftist Tactic creating ENVY between people here.

    WE SHOULD NOT POKE THE BEAR BECAUSE THE BEAR MAY REACT!

    CARICOM countries do not even vote in unison on anything….So why is she trying to encourage the ‘thinking’ that anyone is trying to divide the Caribbean. This is not a political union. It’s like saying we should adopt all Britain’s policies because we are commonwealth.

    ‘This is a grave mistake by the PM. The soft communist ideology has plagued the Caribbean people and its leaders. The PM is giving to much ear to Commies Sing Song and his communist supporting ideologies and this is a dangerous action that gravely threatens Barbados’s relation with its largest trading partner economy. The Caribbean ambassador needs to be reassigned and Commies Sing Song should be given another assignment as ambassador to Cuba or China they will like him out there. Let Commies Sing Song go live Cuba or Venezuela but don’t let him try to turn Barbados into a Cuba and Venezuela.

    Generally, the Caribbean leaders and people have been brainwashed to accept or forced to swallow a Kool-Aid of soft communism with many leaders willing to take 25 years of power if they could. Without personal prejudice COMMIES SING SONG LIKE MANY PEOPLE HAS A POOR UNDERSTANDING OF THE REAL WORLD UNDERGROUND WORKING OF FREE MARKETS AND ECONOMICS AND WHILE I BELIEVE HE HAS A RESPECT FOR PERSONAL RIGHTS HE HAS A LACK OF RESPECT FOR PRIVATE OWNERSHIP, PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS WHICH ARE IMPORTANT PILLAR OF FREE PEOPLE, FREE SOCIETIES AND FREE MARKETS.’

    AS FOR HIS SUPPORT OF MADURO, ANY POLITICIAN WANTING TO SEE HIM CONTINUE IN POWER DOES NOT HAVE THE INTEREST OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE AT HEART BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN TYRANNY!

    QUITE IRONIC AND SYMBOLIC…THIS IMAGE DEPICTS MS MOTTLEY WITH SIX FINGERS POINTING BACK AT HERSELF…

    BE WARNED “PRIDE GOETH THE FALL!”

    https://s1.stabroeknews.com/images/2020/01/mia16.jpg

    http://bibleencyclopedia.com/kjv/KJV_Isaiah_58-9.jpg

  2. robert lucas Avatar
    robert lucas

    Jamaica really hasn’t got much use for CARICOM. Jamaica puts Jamaica first. When I started this food science thing, Jamaica and Trinidad were about or slightly better than Barbados. The two countries have invested heavily in the area and raised their standards. These countries employed graduates in the food science field. I applied one time for a position and went some where and over heard a conversation about how this fellow with a doctorate had applied for the position. There was much laughter which ended in the observation that there wasn’t any need for highly trained people in the field. To export food products on the world stage, there is a need to have consistency in the product to be marketed. This doesn’t happen much locally.. Jamaica with all of its problems has a more positive outlook which Barbados doesn’t have.

  3. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Robert

    Jamaica is a great country and so are its people, but it has never ben very keen on uniting with the Eastern Caribbean. Look at the history of Bustamante’s party from the early 1960s to now; it has always made it clear it is not keen on regional unity – at least with us.
    The other point is that we are in the early stages of the death of the nation-state, it has ran its course.
    Our future is in regional unity, and unity is the operative word. I have said before, and say again, CARICOM must give Jamaica an ultimatum: either play a full role in the organisation or get out. Look at the CCJ.
    If we continue to pussy foot with the Jamaicans they will continue to take the Michael. Thy must be in or out. The fight is not with the US, it is with our fellow CARICOM governments.

  4. David Avatar
    David

    The fight in this case is with decisions taken by Caricom member states.

  5. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    https://youtu.be/Yrotcij6vPI

  6. David Avatar
    David

    Imagine one hegemonist warning the Caribbean about another. To boot China enjoys favoured trade status with the USA.

    War of words between US, China following Pompeo’s visit to Jamaica

    by Caribbean Chronicle
    3:34 pm UTC, January 23, 2020

    A war of words has erupted between the United States and China, with Jamaica and the wider CARICOM at the centre of the dispute.

    The latest exchanges between the world’s two biggest economies over each other’s real motive for courting Caribbean nations, followed comments made by US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo at the end of his whirlwind two-day working visit to Kingston this week.

    The visit was itself divisive, as several CARICOM leaders refused to attend or be represented, arguing that it was an attempt by the United States to divide the regional bloc.

    Washington fired the first salvo on Wednesday when Pompeo warned Jamaica and its Caribbean neighbours to view Chinese investments with suspicion.

    Pompeo also suggested that China is a threat to national security in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

    China hit back hard late in the evening with its Embassy in Kingston accusing the Donald Trump administration of stirring trouble and picking fights with its trading partners. That statement was a likely reference to the ongoing trade war between Washington and Beijing.

    “For some time, it seems that some US politicians cannot go anywhere without attacking China, tarnishing China’s reputation, starting fires and fanning the flames and sowing discord,” said the searing response from the Chinese.

    Pompeo’s warning was similar to that issued last November by the United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Donald Tapia, in which he even described China as a “two-headed dragon”.

    This time the Chinese were more dismissive of the comments, describing them as groundless.

    Pompeo, the top US diplomat, also warned Jamaica and its neighbours against accepting “easy money from places like China”. He was speaking at a policy discussion on US/Caribbean relations at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston.

    “What good is it (investments) if it feeds corruption and undermines your rule of law? What good are those investments if, in fact, they ruin your environment and don’t create jobs for your people?” Pompeo asked.

  7. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    Please delete my previous post at 8:47. I hope this shares the right video.

    https://youtu.be/Yrotcij6vPI

  8. Caleb Pilgrim Avatar
    Caleb Pilgrim

    @ Blogmaster: Well done.

    So sad, but so predictable. As I said, elsewhere, in my opinion, the B’dos P.M has been right on this matter of CARICOM member states and the US.

    More broadly, must we in the Caribbean always play the groveling mendicant, always on one’s knees, mendacious at home and an infinitely pliable mook – like putty – abroad?

    BTW, what exactly has the US done for Barbados lately?

    (I assume that even the hard working ladies of Lord Nelson’s Street, the Duke of Wellington’s Street and H.M’s Garrison operate according to some tariff, no?)

  9. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Caleb

    You are wrong and so is the president. The fight is not with the US but with fellow CARICOM members. The US can only divide us if we are already divided. The principal role of the president, is security for Barbadian citizens and, secondly, to drill down CARICOM unity. So far she has failed on both in her eagerness to be world class and to punch above her weight.

  10. John Avatar
    John

    CARICOM is a joke.

  11. Greene Avatar
    Greene

    @Hal

    spot on,mate. i have been talking to some Ja friends and they are angry with PM Holness and point back to the JLP and the Federation altho with subtle differences.

    In general, with its large population and name recognition, Ja believes that it should hold a major position in Caricom and not just one of the others.

    Re- what MAM said- she is quite correct. both parties in Bim to varying degrees of spin have the same foreign affairs worldview built upon Barrow’s , “a friend of all, a satellite of none,” mantra. i expected nothing less from a Bim PM speaking under the aegis of Caricom

  12. David Avatar
    David

    You have to understand the psyche of the Jamaican and the Bahamian especially, they see their economic fortune wrapped up with forging good relations with the USA at any cost even if it means jettisoning Caricom.Barbados and like minded nations need to annex the sub region and move forward with the functional cooperation project we call Caricom.

  13. John Avatar
    John

    Trying to use CARICOM as a principle is like trying to walk on water.

  14. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    If the objective of the visit was Not create division(s) among CARICOM states why then the ‘divide-and-rule’ imperial tactic of inviting some, and not others, to the table of manipulation serving an international fare of geopolitics?

    Why not invite all and let each CARICOM member state accept or turn down the invitation?

    Is this the Trumpeter’s interpretation of Teddy Roosevelt foreign policy towards Uncle Sam’s backyard of ‘sh**thole neighbors?
    One of talking loud to carry a ‘dividing’ fork instead of a big stick to eviscerate the political sardines cramped in one inescapable can of poverty and dependency?

    Is this another major stab in the back inflicted by Jamaica to repeat the history of mistakes made by the Federation experiment?

    What goes around would one day come around as there is nothing new under the Caribbean political sun.

    The CCJ failure and now this.
    What next is required to call in the undertaker for this dying project?

    For Guyana- with its corruptible newly found mine of ‘black’ fool’s gold of a racially-tainted carat- think about going it alone until Maduro is replaced and Venezuela (along with its massive reserves of similar black gold) returns to the loving arms of her Yankee-Spanish-speaking big brother just up North?

  15. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    small islanders unite. Jamaica,Trinidad and Guyana ent interested,

  16. John Avatar
    John

    How much of our national debt is controlled by US sources of funds?

    The borrower is slave to the lender.

  17. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Greene

    The US is only now interested in what they call the islands because of China. The US is a dying nation. BUT WE MUST UNITE. The president is wrong. She is promoting her personal ambition – to be world class and punch above her weight – in to the nation’s. That is the act of a despot. I am the nation, the nation is me.

  18. David Avatar
    David

    The US has always selectively shown interest in the region whether Grenada intervention re: Russia and Cuba influence, launching a PR painting initiative called Caribbean Basin Initiative etc.

    It is called geopolitics!

  19. Greene Avatar
    Greene

    @Hal

    maybe the US is a dying empire but not nation (i think that is what you meant). generally i agree with your take on Mottley (references to her as President) but i believe she is correct in this matter notwithstanding whether or not it intertwines with her personal ambition to be seen as a regional leader

  20. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    David look how quickly u have pursued a distraction method to take away interest from the Donville Innis story after i posted this

    https://barbadosunderground.net/2007/06/25/prime-minister-owen-arthur-can-prove-his-innocence-in-the-cheque-affair-with-the-help-of-his-bank-manager-at-fcib/

    Truth unlike milk does not spoil
    The articles about Donville innis needs balance
    It is called fair and ethical and balanced reporting after 91comments u find it necessary to post a story which was talked about for over a week all because i posted the above story which had to do with corruption in the blp camp
    You can fool some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time

  21. David Avatar
    David

    Former envoy says Jamaica PM in danger of being U.S. pawn in CARICOM coup | Caribbean News Service

    Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has been warned against becoming a pawn in Washington’s bid to solicit votes in its diplomatic war with the Maduro regime in Venezuela. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s highly anticipated visit to Jamaica has been marked by intrigue and outrage in the le…

  22. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Greene

    I mean nation. Its share of global GDP is diminishing and so is its military influence, its key two weapons, which partly explains Trump’s nationalism. It is a drowning man.
    The president is wrong on two fronts: she gets the basics wrong in that her priority is to improve the life chances of Barbadians, which so far she has failed to do (just look at the murder rate) and regional security. Second (ie improvements to CARICOM). And, as I have said, she mis-interprets her own ambitions as the nation’s. Again she is wrong.

  23. RG Avatar
    RG

    The principal role of the president, is security for Barbadian citizens and, secondly, to drill down CARICOM unity. So far she has failed on both in her eagerness to be world class and to punch above her weight. [Quote]

    @ Hal Austin

    Silly man, you could of keep away from the blog longer. You always on with this $hyte about world class and punching above weight. You are just one wicked, vindictive, liar of an old man whose main mission is to criticize Mottley and Barbadians at all cost, even if it means going as far as to misrepresent things people say.

    Many posters here admit that there are divisions in CARICOM that existed long before Mottley was appointed Chairperson. You even admit this by saying Jamaica is not keen on uniting with the Eastern Caribbean.

    She was appointed Chair sometime this month, how has she failed to drill down CARICOM unity?

    For you to expect her to drill down CARICOM unity within a few weeks, something that the previous Chair Allen Chastanet and the other Chairmen before him were unable to do during their entire tenures, is unreasonable.

    You like to criticize people for Googling, but could as well Google, because you does to come here to pontificate on things you have not researched or know about.

  24. David Avatar
    David

    Everything is always black or white once Mia Mottley’d name is in the mix. Has it dawned on you that the position she has taken collides with what you want which is sending a strong message to Caricom we must do it together or else? She has been in office less than two years, you are of the view she can snap a finger and wish away years of suspect policies of which she was a part in former adminstrations? She and predecessors have made mistakes, we have to believe she will encounter her version of an epiphany and pivot when required. Stop playing the man – in this case woman – and be reasonable. You are being a bull seeing a red flag when Mottley is in the mix. Even your sidekick from blighty sees the irrationality in your position.

  25. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    Wunnah small island people tekking this “punching above its weight” too literally as if big island Jamaica gives two “blaad clat” about what wunnah tink.

    Looka as is pointed out before Bustamante put pressure on Manley to call de referendum ( be careful what you wish for) to take Jamaica out of the so called Federation. Jamaica was upset because (1) it wasn’t chosen (Kingston) as the capital of the region and (2) no man from Barbados where as the Jamaicans say “they could tek out their “c…k ad piss all over de island” could rule over them when they were more than enuff Jamaicans who could do the job.. As fuh de CCJ why should we join when we could still use it to beat wunnah (Myrie) ovah wunnah head. And if wunnah don’t think that Jamaica doesn’t have a special relationship with the US ask Dudus Coke who took him out of the ghetto.

    As for Caricom its always one step forward and three steps back Bajans should invest their energies in praying for rain at least that might alleviate some of the water shortages that some areas of the island are experiencing.

    As always ‘We gatherin”.

  26. Freedom Crier Avatar
    Freedom Crier

    RE “Pompeo also suggested that China is a threat to national security in the Latin American and Caribbean region.”

    State Media: ‘The Presence of China in Venezuela Is Getting Stronger Every Day’

    CHINA’S STATE-RUN GLOBAL TIMES NEWSPAPER BOASTED OF BEIJING’S EXPANDED PRESENCE IN VENEZUELA, NOTING THAT THE “U.S. IS SCEPTICAL FOR GEOPOLITICAL REASONS” OF GROWING TIES BETWEEN SOCIALIST DICTATOR NICOLÁS MADURO AND COMMUNIST PARTY CHIEF XI JINPING.

    Maduro visited China seeking funds to keep his regime afloat. Thanks to nearly two decades of socialist mismanagement of the economy and violent repression of opposition voices, Venezuela is currently undergoing the worst humanitarian crisis in its history. The nation suffers a near-complete shortage of the basic medications needed for a functional health care system, and growing numbers of Venezuelans are relying on eating garbage to survive.

    Since Maduro visited Beijing China’s tune has changed towards the country. The Times has identified Venezuela as a prime target for the country’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) infrastructure initiative, designed to give China control over the world’s most important roads, ports, and railways. When Xi Jinping first announced the program, OBOR was intended to reconstruct the ancient Silk Road from Beijing to western Europe. China has since expanded the scope of the project to unrelated regions like southern Africa and Latin America.

    In a piece detailing relations between Venezuela and China, the Global Times declared, “It is undeniable that the presence of China in Venezuela is getting stronger every day, of which the US is sceptical for geopolitical reasons.” While noting that Venezuela’s economic collapse was “worrisome” for Chinese businesses and investors, the piece noted that China has invested heavily in telecommunications, agriculture, and especially oil in the country. Venezuela boasts the world’s largest known oil reserves, doing little to help the country fix its dire economic situation as MADURO INSISTS ON GIVING THE OIL AWAY TO COUNTRIES LIKE CUBA THAT ALSO INCLUDES SOME CARICOM COUNTRIES FOR IDEOLOGICAL SUPPORT.

    The cooperation between China and Venezuela on military issues as China has given the Maduro regime “military planes K-8W, vehicles, equipment, technical service, new systems and parts” which the Venezuelan military has used to injure and kill unarmed protests.

    Beijing announced that it agreed to grant Venezuela a $5 billion credit line, to help Maduro stay in power. Venezuela is reportedly expected to pay that money back in oil cooperation, a “strategic alliance on gold mining,” and handing over other resources. THE LOAN WILL REPORTEDLY FUNCTION SIMILARLY TO OTHER OBOR LOANS HANDED OUT IN AFRICA, WHERE CHINA HAS THREATENED TO SEIZE GOVERNMENT PROPERTY IF OUTSTANDING DEBTS REMAIN UNPAID.

    CONNECT THE DOTS YET!!!

    https://media.breitbart.com/media/2018/09/wi/afp/15/066161_venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-shown-chinese-counterpart-xi-jinping-640×427.jpg

  27. Freedom Crier Avatar
    Freedom Crier

    COMMUNISM IS AN TOTALITARIAN INFECTIOUS DISEASE RUNNING THROUGH THE VEINS OF THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA…

    RUSSIA AND CHINA ARE ALLIES OF VENEZUELA AND CUBA AND HAVE BEEN WIELDING THEIR INFLUENCE THROUGH OUR SOCIALIST/COMMUNIST LEADERS IN THE CARIBBEAN FOR A LONG TIME

    Close to Home America Saved the Nation of Grenada from Russian Takeover…

    The Soviet Union tried to make the island of Grenada to function as a Soviet base, and also by getting supplies from Cuba. On October 1983, during the U.S. invasion of Grenada, U.S. President Ronald Reagan maintained that US Marines arrived on the island of Grenada, which was considered a Soviet-Cuban ally that would export communist revolution throughout the Caribbean.
    The United States invasion of Grenada was on 25 October 1983. The invasion, led by the United States of the Caribbean island nation of Grenada

    Operation Urgent Fury, it was triggered by the internal strife within the People’s Revolutionary Government that resulted in the house arrest and the execution of the previous leader and second Prime Minister of Grenada Maurice Bishop, and the establishment of a preliminary government.

    The Marxist-Leninist New Jewel Movement seized power in a coup in 1979 under Maurice Bishop, suspending the constitution and detaining a number of political prisoners.

    The date of the invasion is now a national holiday in Grenada, called Thanksgiving Day, which commemorates the freeing, after the invasion, of several political prisoners who were subsequently elected to office.

    I know you do not even realize what America did in Grenada by putting a stop to the Soviet-Cuban ally that would export communist revolution throughout the Caribbean. All like now the islands would be little Havana’s. Some places are still reeling from the effects of Communist Lite of Jagan in Guyana and Manly in Jamaica. The sad part is that the Caribbean and most of South America choose Socialism which is a Slower Pace of Rot and Decay to Communism… See what has happened to our neighbours in Venezuela and Look at where this ideology has brought the island of Barbados too! Make no mistake about it “The Goal of Socialism is Communism”…Vladimir Lenin

    https://illinoisfamilyaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Untitled-1.png

  28. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Sargeant

    Brilliant.

  29. David Avatar
    David

    If you read Sargeant’s comment you would see it conflicts greatly with your position about the ability to mesh a working integration movement called Caricom but you are always so fixated on a position that meaningful dialoguing is useless with you.

  30. WURA-WAR-on-U Avatar
    WURA-WAR-on-U

    It’s amazing that Kofi Annan, deceased while Secretary General of the UN made one comment years and years ago, one little comment you know and these dumb asses will not let ya hear the end of it, and am sure they are realizing now that what he said was taken completely out of context BY THEM as i have been telling them along, cause look at the condition of the island’s infrastructure…..and ECONOMY…look at the amount of people right now on the poverty line….look at the multimillion dollar consultants, the missing billions from treasury and pension fund..

    and let’s NOT forget Donville punching above his weight too..

  31. Greene Avatar
    Greene

    @David

    quote] Even your sidekick from blighty sees the irrationality in your position [quote

    lol. i practice Barrow’s mantra, “friend of all satellite of none”. that notwithstanding my mate Hal does a splendid job of stating and defending his positions. we may not always agree but i defend his right to his arguments

  32. David Avatar
    David

    The Press conference post Pompeo meeting:

    https://www.c-span.org/video/?468392-1/secretary-state-pompeo-joint-news-conference-jamaica&fbclid=IwAR12CUM4tprW2AlinJNB6gzc0bUe_aq8hyeYzW3MVKybrmVLTsDFamAltX0

  33. David Avatar
    David

    @Greene

    That is the point of this forum, therefore expect return fire if you spout BS.

    We have had our difference of opinions, it does not mean we cannot move on.

  34. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Greene

    You should post under a bogus name, then change it to the initials of the bogus name while fabricating nonsense about the person you are attacking. That is the Bajan Condition.
    Do you drink Pretty Girl or Alleyne Arthur. As today is Saturday, have some black pudding and souse and breadfruit too. Ignore the chairman, he is not the cleverest person on the blog.

  35. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    RG

    Many posters here admit that there are divisions in CARICOM that existed long before Mottley was appointed Chairperson.

    Xxxxxxxccccxxxxxx

    But was her words in the best interest towards unifying the Caricom Community
    What point did her words serve except to create a war of words which were described as “unnecessary noisy utterances by the ST Kitts foreign minister
    It is not as if barbados was officially banned from further negotiations with the USA
    If that is Mia way of diplomatic solution then as Chairperson the community would be pushed further into disharmony

  36. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ David January 25, 2020 10:12 AM

    The Ivy-born ‘foreigner’ man in Blighty sounds as disappointed in the evangelically-preaching MAM as an angry black man of a suitor who sees himself as the intellectual bee’s knees of the Bajan Diaspora but now finds himself jilted by a lover of her own homegrown and school-friends kind.

    Maybe he was expecting a posting as an attaché responsible for identifying resources needed for the economic and financial resuscitation of little England.

    After all, the politically well-connected and well-heeled in the British society chubby-face bloke fancies himself as a kingmaker (in this case Queen) based his many notes from a Native Son which he saw as instrumental in deposing the previous administration.

    He did a cracking job, there; even masterminding the removal of that despicable Guyanese-born DPP!

  37. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    America wants to pressure everyone to do as it wants and will undermine Governments and perform regime changes to get results.
    This means not be socialist or liberal, allowing US global trade and regulations and supporting wars in Africa and Middle East and rumours of wars in Asia South America or anywhere else, including trade wars and sanctions. Imho USA does not rule world and standing up against them is fundamental (although fools rush in where angels fear to tread). You need big balls to say no to USA.

  38. Mariposa Avatar
    Mariposa

    When small islands nations join the USA club they knew the rules
    If they want to disassociate then give up all the pretty perks that comes with the membership
    Mia gave blanket permission to the IMF ( a member of the club) to be the watchdog of Barbados economy
    Now having a temper tantrum because Barbados was not invited to one meeting
    Noisy utterances indeed .
    Noisy utterances

  39. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Mariposa

    Spot on. It is a Faustian deal, a pact with the devil.

  40. Caleb Pilgrim Avatar
    Caleb Pilgrim

    @ Hal:

    “The US can only divide us if we are already divided”

    ??? Bizarre logic. If we are already divided, then there is no need for the U.S to divide us.

    Also, the historical patterns in the Caribbean have all been based on a colonial system of “divide and rule”, and vertical relations between the colony and the metropole. Today’s divisions merely replicate yesterday’s, whether involving British or American imperialism.

  41. John A Avatar
    John A

    The good old USA has concerns for the view of Jamaica and Trinidad. To them the other islands in caricom are but small specs with low level population on them.

    The golden new born for USA in the region going forward will neither be Jamaica or Trinidad, but GUYANA which will be the Dubai of the Caribbean. With Venezuela’s future and it’s oil reserves uncertain, Guyana with it massive finds will be the new adopted child of the USA.

    Besides wunna forget what Jamaica and Trinidad tell you with the federation way back when? You honestly believe their view has changed.

  42. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Caleb

    Apologies. It is not bizarre logic, but basic philosophical reasoning. Sorry. My fault.

  43. David Avatar
    David

    The USA has no interest in this region and except to the extent it coincides with the geopolitics of the day. The fraternization by Jamaica and a few others with the flavour of USA foreign policy the day is not sustainable and or coincide with the interest of this region as we have seen elsewhere. The mouthing of the late Errol Barrow rings true to this day, a non aligned approach a la Oman, Sweden and a few others is the best approach if we want to continue to be known as a zone of peace.

    I

  44. BMcDonald Avatar
    BMcDonald

    Last I heard, Caricom was very important to Barbados as a trading partner. I imagine this underpins the statement of our Prime Minister who also happens to be Chairman of Caricom. Historically Jamaica has said that it does not see enough trade benefit from Caricom, hence the threatened trade war with T&T. The economic considerations apart the self determination of the region as a zone of peace is under significant threat by the manipulation of countries which jumped at Petro Caribe when it benefitied them. The medicancy was already demonstrable. The mirror should probably be held up so Caricom can see itself as it is seen by others. This is what the PM is doing.

  45. Baje Avatar
    Baje

    The good old USA has concerns for the view of Jamaica 3 miilion and Trinidad 1.4million. To them the other islands in caricom are but small specs with low level population on them.
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    YOU HAVE NAILED IT.

    CARICOM HAS LESS THAN 6 MILLION POPULATION WITH AT LEAST 60% LIVING A POOR STANDARD OF LIVING LESS THAN US$10,000 ANNUALLY.

    I LIVE NEXT TO A US STATE WHERE THE POPULATION IS CLOSER TO 40 MILLION; MORE THAN 6 TIMES CARICOM WITH A STANDARD OF LIVING IN EXCESS OF US$25,000 ANNUALLY.

    THESE SMALL POOR RAKEY ISLANDS WITH NO MILITARY AND WHO ARE LIVING IN DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR THINKING THAT THEY ARE PUNCHING ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT NEED TO TAKE A DOSE OF REALITY.

  46. Tron Avatar
    Tron

    Jamaica, that criminal plantation, is irrelevant, so spare yourself the hassle.

    All we care about is El Dorado, which is Greater Hindu-Guyana. Jamaica only brings us criminals and loitering beggars, while Hindu-Guyana brings us investments worth billions.

  47. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ Baje

    We have always suffered from thinking our view matters globally. IF we just accept the reality that with the real Exception of Guyana now, the USA does not give a rats ass about our opinion one way or another.

    Another laughable statement is that ” Trump is trying to divide the Caribbean.” Now answer me this if you and your wife happily married another man could break you up? Accept the fact for God sake that Caricom is a joke in terms of solidarity. If you doubt me forget Trump and take a look at the disaster we call LIAT!

  48. BMcDonald Avatar
    BMcDonald

    The Caricom experiment is still a work in progress like the US, like the UK, like the EU. There are states that are less wealthy than others in each of these unions. Some Caricom countries are paying lip service only to the idea of Caricom and see themselves as getting more on their plate by acquiescence to the dictates of the developed countries at the expense of their own development. Can any of the 15 Caricom states become developed without this union? I don.t think so. We have now seen the obstacles and the moving goal posts as we seek to develop ourselves. It is lazy leadership that does not see the need to protect Caricom.

  49. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ John A

    You got it in one. Pls explain to @Caleb.

  50. robert lucas Avatar
    robert lucas

    @ Hal January 25, 2020 8:36 AM
    “The other point is that we are in the early stages of the death of the nation-state”

    No where is there going to be a demise of the nation state, The idea of national identity and religion trumps all other things. You would like the nation state to disappear, it is not going to happen. I am going to say something that you will get uptight about. When the native Europeans being to realize that because of multi-culture and political correctness. that there is a possibility that a foreign culture will usurp their own. they are going to take up arms. History has shown that this is so. They will take up arms and run out the outsiders. You can wallow in what ever you want to believe. As I have said, in the UK, unless you have spent over a thousand or so years comingling, you are not British.. you can talk all you want., a people are not going to give up their identity .

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