(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) Noted Caribbean Economist Dr. Clive Thomas has cautioned Caribbean leaders that they must ” move aggressively to ensure high consideration for the Region's people, or run the risk of “cultural extinction.” Dr. Thomas made his comments as he delivered the Sixth Memorial Lecture on Tuesday 17 May in Georgetown, in honour of late Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General, Mr. William Demas.
Delivering his lecture under the theme, “The Development Glass: Half Empty or Half Full: Perspectives on Caribbean Development”, Professor Thomas said the infusion of western culture now poses a threat to the Region's maintenance of its identity and social fabric. “What is at risk” he said “is the loss of a distinctive culture still in the making. We put at risk a loss of culture; and ultimately we put at risk a loss of humanity…” He hailed the many feats accomplished in the Region towards Caribbean development, including general improvements in social services, a more vibrant civil society, exemplary levels of governance, and enhanced access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
In speaking to the challenges the Caribbean continues to face, the economist bemoaned the continued migration of skilled labour and warned that the Region must carefully consider the ability of its skilled resources to move freely intra-Regionally within the context of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). It is the “free movement of the people of the Region” which will largely determine the success of the single economic space, Dr. Thomas said.
He pointed to the perennial challenges of globalisation and liberalisation, and noted that these perpetuated economic inequalities between the developed world and developing countries. He stressed that the late William Demas envisioned a Region underpinned by economic unity, which leaders must strive for in the pursuit of a single economic space. In conclusion, he purported that severe impediments to the integration process persist, but he stressed that “political union” is the way to the creation of a single economic space.
Commenting on the downside of regional development, Dr. Thomas said the growing prevalence of the HIV/AIDS points to the need for improved access to anti-retroviral drugs and Voluntary Counselling and Testing which are essential to treating and caring for the Region's human resources.
CARICOM Secretary General, His Excellency Edwin Carrington, who noted that Mr. Demas has left a great legacy that grows with time, chaired the lecture series, which is staged to coincide with the Annual Board of Governors Meeting of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Mr. Carrington observed that the spirit of his late mentor “continues to drive the Regional development process forward.”
The lecture series is being sponsored by the Caribbean Development Bank whose President, Dr. Compton Bourne recalled that Mr. Demas possessed an “expansive mind and legendary energy” and worked tirelessly to contribute to the current stage of the Region's integration movement.
Among those present at the lecture were Guyana's Prime Minister, Hon. Samuel Hinds, other Government Ministers and officials, representatives of the CDB and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
The annual lecture series in memory of Mr. Demas started in 2000, and have included presentations by Caribbean stalwarts such as Sir Allister McIntyre, Sir George Alleyne, and Professor Rex Nettleford.
