Support Village Voice News With a Donation of Your Choice.
By Lincoln Lewis
The family of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is under threat. The peoples of the Caribbean, refer specifically not only to the anglophone Caribbean forming the archipelagos of islands but the continental states of Guyana and Belize, in their common history of slavery, indentureship and colonisation came together on 4th July 1973 under the leadership of the Big Four- Forbes Burnham, Errol Barrow, Eric Williams and Michael Manley. They united to pursue their cultural, social, economic and political well-being after several efforts before.
We had the short lived West Indian Federation and Caribbean Free Trade Agreement (CARIFTA) which preceded CARICOM. This institution has to date been the most successful effort at regional integration. Over the years it has expanded beyond the anglophone Caribbean to include Dutch speaking Suriname and French speaking Haiti, the latter being the last to enjoy full membership.
With the advancement of the CARICOM Single Market Economy (CSME), the major plank in the institution, recently established is the CARICOM Competition Commission. This shows growth. Notwithstanding these growths the Community nevertheless stands challenged in areas such as imbalance in economy, money laundering and financing of terrorism, the establishment of a unitary currency, ethnic conflicts, insularity, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whereas we should be working together to overcome these challenges, here we are being served with a bitter pill in what appears to be a partnership of some members-state to take advantage of those considered weaker or at their most vulnerable. Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, had cause a few days ago to speak out on what he called “insularity hidden in intellectual subterfuge.”
Antigua did not attend this year’s virtual CARICOM Heads of Government Conference. Noticeably absent was David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana who was represented by Karen Cummings, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Antigua sent a strong message to the CARICOM family by its absence. The Caribbean Media Corporation reported the Prime Minister’s displeasure with his fellow Caribbean leaders in the handling of LIAT, a regional airline.
Barbados has established the One Caribbean Limited (OCL) airline, which intends to service the region, and has a base in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The OCL is likely to undercut LIAT’s survival. The decision by fellow CARICOM countries to walk away from LIAT is not only unfortunate to regional interest but has left Antigua saddled with EC$62 million of the EC$82 million liability. Outgoing Chairperson Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados and current Chairman Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines in their addresses to the conference touted the importance of “cooperation” to the survival of regional integration.
It therefore ought to be of concern to the region that Browne, in addressing the undermining of LIAT, felt compelled to say, though not specifically naming anyone, that for some leaders “their espoused value about regional integration, are incongruent with their insular action.” He refers to this conduct as “insularity hidden in intellectual subterfuge.” Presently Guyana is in a vulnerable state given the unresolved electoral impasse. Our election which was held on 2nd March 2020 is yet to conclude. This is as a result of challenges to the declaration and count and the utilisation of the judiciary as a mean to resolution. In the meantime we continue to witness persons-local and foreign-inveighing themselves in the process with little or no regard for the constitutional independence of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), knowledge of and/or respect for our electoral laws, and wanting to dictate to us what must happen.
The President of Guyana and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party sought the input of the past CARICOM Chairperson to help resolve the impasse via a recount, given legitimacy under gazette Order 60 of 2020 dated 4th and 29th May. Guyana sought similar intervention in the post-1997 Election. 2020 was not a first and a blueprint existed how to approach a matter as delicate and divisive as this.
Even today standing out is the strategy of predecessors Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, under whose chairmanship the Herdmanston Agreement was inked and Prime Minister Kenny Anthony under whose chairmanship the St. Lucia Statement was signed. Their handling of the issues, which managed to de-escalate the conflicts by the facilitating of structures through consensus building, established confidence in the Community that their leaders could be committed to common purpose. In 2020 the signals being sent are of concern. Statements have been made by the past and present chairpersons that are not only inflammatory, divisive, arrogant and uncaring how such would be received but also intolerant for some who exercised their right to judicial review. What is happening in Antigua and Guyana is disrespectful of the CARICOM family and if not arrested can do irreparable harm. CARICOM was established out of common interest. Never had it set out to be contemptuous of each other – as fellow states or peoples.
CARICOM was founded on the principles of equality and mutual respect. Whether Prime Minister or President as in the case of Guyana and Suriname, these leaders are Heads of Government. In the case of Guyana and Suriname they are Heads of Government and State. The disrespect meted out to the President, whether you support his candidacy or not, is a disrespect for our highest Office and Guyana. Disagreement does not mean being disagreeable. This we must not countenance.
Guyana is not only a founding member of CARICOM but has a stellar record of selfless leadership to the community and could always be relied upon for a helping hand whenever needed or called. The President presides over a nation with greater responsibility and much vast resources than those who seek to disrespect Guyana can ever dream off. Notwithstanding this, the news that Barbados is identified to be blacklisted by the European Union for lax enforcement to avert money-laundering and the financing of terrorism must be of concern to the Caribbean family. This is a blot on Barbados and happening under the leadership of Prime Minister Mottley. It is an embarrassment for CARICOM, particularly members state such as Guyana, who under the Granger-led administration worked hard to ensure compliance with anti-money laundering and the financing of terrorism structures.
