(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Introduction: The Courage And Inspiration of Haiti
Colleagues, I feel a particular joy and satisfaction this morning to extend congratulations to President Michel Joseph Martelly, the Government of Haiti, and indeed the people of Haiti for the superb arrangements for our Conference. I thank him too for his warm and generous welcome in the finest Caribbean spirit and tradition.
This meeting, as you heard is historic. It deserves repetition. It is the first meeting of Heads of Government in Haiti, Chaired by the President of Haiti on behalf of the people of Haiti and the CARICOM family of nations. For all practical purposes, Haiti has crossed the historical Rubicon.
Haiti has always had a special place in our hearts. Today, as we have done before, we pay homage to the land of Toussaint, Dessalines and Petion. Without Haiti’s freedom, we would not be free. The courage of the people of Haiti was the inspiration that fired the imagination of our forefathers for emancipation, freedom and liberation from the yoke of slavery.
It is this courage that the people of Haiti will have to invoke to rebuild their country after the devastating earthquake of January 2010. It will be a long journey to recovery but it is re-assuring that hope is replacing despair in the hearts and minds of the people of Haiti.
FIVE DISPARATE THEMES
Mr. Chairman, I do not propose to address a particular theme on this occasion. Rather, I prefer to share a few observations arising from my tenure as Chairman of our Community. I intend to focus on five disparate issues without particular coherence or unity, albeit briefly.
A VISIT TO THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE
For many outside our region, the nations of the Caribbean Community continue to be a bewildering, perplexing but fascinating part of the world.
We have confounded the world with our intellectual accomplishments, our artistic talents and our athletic prowess. We have proved that we can be the best in the world in whatever field of our choosing. We have also proved that size is no barrier to greatness, to excellence. How else do you explain Kirani James from our sister island of Grenada who gave a spectacular performance in the 400 meter race at the London Olympics?
I was fortunate to meet Caribbean athletes at the Olympic Village at the start of the Games. I was impressed by the fact that they understood that they sought glory not only for their countries but the region as a whole. I had one regret. I did not meet the majestic and awesome Usain Bolt as I was told that he was in training somewhere in Birmingham. But I suspected that the Jamaicans feared I may have contaminated him, so they kept him away from me before the great race. I guess I will make up for it as I understand that Saint Lucia is his favourite vacation destination.
What struck me then and now is the huge potential for sports in our Community. No one can deny the surge of pride in our region when our athletes triumphed. For a region whose people are starving of contact with each other, it seems to me that one of the best gifts we can give to our young people, is collective investment in sports development in our Community. Jamaica and Suriname lead the way in training, performance and infrastructure. Suriname has established a Sports Academy to offer training to its citizens as well as nationals of other CARICOM countries. There is now even greater potential for collaboration and cooperation across our region.
Saint Lucia yearns for an Olympic Crown.
AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE ACP
As colleagues would be aware, I represented our Community at the ACP Conference of Heads of Government in Equatorial New Guinea in December 2012. I was the sole Head of Government from our Community in attendance though I was ably supported by the Secretary General of CARICOM and the Foreign Ministers of Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
The issue was the survival of the ACP.
It is clear that we have work to do to rebuild our bridges with the ACP specifically, and Africa, generally. As it is well known, Africa is yet to agree with the European Union to establish their version of the EPA. There were constant references to the experience of the Caribbean, said, I believe, to justify Africa’s caution in its attempt to reach an accord with Europe. The disappointment of members of the ACP in our Community was palpable and real.
ISSUE OF DIFFERENTIATION
Another burning issue is the proposal by the European Union to introduce the concept of “differentiation” to determine aid and support to ACP Countries. “Differentiation” is just another word for the “graduation” of states. This could not come at a worse time for Caribbean economies, caught in the most debilitating economic crisis since independence.
There can be no doubt that the Europeans are determined to apply “differentiation.” They have made it clear that they may refine the principle but there will be no retreat from its implementation.
The truth is that our relationship with Europe is becoming even more and more “one sided” with Europe seemingly having its way at every turn, on every occasion. Europe had its way with bananas, sugar and the EPA. Now, it is about to have its way with “differentiation.”
This issue must be fought resolutely, with all the diplomatic will and resources at our disposal. As Prime Minister Gonsalves reminded the Europeans in Chile, the relationship between the EU and CARIFORUM is not just economic but profoundly political.
Europe as well as CARICOM, will have to determine not just the diplomatic, but also the political value of the existing relationship.
THE STATE OF OUR ECONOMIES
These and other developments are taking place at a time when our economic vulnerabilities have been exposed for all to see. It makes little sense to rehearse the tale of woe now sweeping our region. Suffice it to say that three of our Member States are now in the embrace of the IMF. Others are battling debilitating economic conditions. Only recently the President of the Caribbean Development Bank put seven of our countries on the watch list of countries carrying “unsustainable debt.”
Meanwhile the CLICO/BAICO issue languishes, only partially resolved, thanks to the generosity of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The fate of the remaining policy holders in the Eastern Caribbean is the subject of debate on political platforms in Barbados on the eve of the general elections in that country.
The unvarnished truth is that our economies need each other to survive and prosper. Trinidadian manufacturers cannot prosper if regional economies are anemic with little prospect to return to high levels of growth. Trinidad and Tobago needs regional economies that are strong, vibrant and fully capable of financing demand for goods and services.
We need a “big conversation” about the future of our economies, not just the future of CARICOM. For that reason, I hope we can, at our summit in July, focus on the future of our economies. It would be an opportunity to chart a new paradigm for growth, review the role and performance of our regional institutions to determine how they can help in these times and better assist us to restore growth to our economies.
THE RESTRUCTURING OF CARICOM
The final matter I wish to turn to is the re-structuring of the Caribbean Community Secretariat. As you have heard from the Secretary General of CARICOM, the process of change is now underway. A “Change Facilitation Team” has been recruited and has commenced work. At this meeting, we have been presented with an “Outline of the Community Strategic Plan 2014 – 2019,” for our consideration.
I fully support these initiatives to transform and empower the CARICOM Secretariat. The case for its transformation is even more compelling in these times, in this “guava season”, as we say in this region.
The real question is whether the emphasis on the Secretariat is enough. The problems that we face may well lie in the structure and underpinnings of the institutions of the Community which were created by the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Reforming the Secretariat may not yield the results that we seek. We have to take a hard look at the institutions which we created.
These institutions, created by the Treaty have become bureaucratic, unwieldy and lethargic. Applications for economic redress seem to take ages before a response is forthcoming. It is little wonder that some say that we spend more time and resources in attending meetings rather than making decisions. The real question is this: Do we need all of these so called Councils and should they meet as frequently as they do?
These questions may be tiring, even premature, but they cannot be ignored.
CONCLUSION
Colleague Heads, I say no more but to thank you for the opportunity to serve you and the people of our region.
Thank you!
