Mar 18
Transcript of an interview conducted during the Havana Book Fair in February 2012.
(Extract) What unites us is a common frame of reference of our historical experience. But what also unites us, in a context of diversity, has been the affirmation of what my old friend and colleague Rex Nettleford called “smaddification”…All the labor that was brought here was brought here in a condition of exploitation of one way or another and the process of creating a Caribbean identity out of those conditions is a process of resistance, of struggle and of affirmation of self, of the dignity of the human person and of the right to autonomy of our societies…
Feb 23
“Crisis” is one of those words that is used so much that it has practically lost its meaning. And if there were a competition among regional organisations on which of them was most often said to be “in crisis”, my bet would be on Caricom winning by a wide margin…
Feb 21
Remarks at a Panel Discussion at the Havana International Book Fair, February 11, 2012
Over the past 50 years or so there has been a noticeable growth of a ‘Caribbean consciousness’ within the Anglophone Caribbean, encompasseing key countries of the wider Caribbean; including Cuba…My question for my Cuban colleagues is this: how does this square with the Cuban ‘conception of self’? Does Cuba accept the notion of a ‘Caribbean family’ to which it belongs?…
Sep 15
Presentation at the ECLAC Caribbean Development Round Table held in Port of Spain on September 13, 2011
Proposals now on the table suggest the evolution of a kind of hybrid model of economic integration; in which elements of ‘industrial policy’ (selective interventions by means of common policies, functional cooperation and investment) are combined with elements of orthodox ‘open regionalism’ (selective implementation of single economy elements). But if Caricom is to move in this direction, there are at least three hurdles are to be overcome…
Aug 29
Presentation At Training Workshop For Officials Of The Foreign Ministries Of CARICOM States Organised By The Institute Of International Relations, UWI, With Support From The Government of Australia, on August 22, 2011
The world of today is infinitely more complex and volatile than the world in which most CARICOM countries attained statehood. Accordingly, the challenges to diplomacy are infinitely more complex and fast changing. But have our thinking, institutions and diplomatic practice kept pace?
IMF says pace of expansion in the region begins to moderate CaricomNews Sept 24 2011
World Bank says region’s long-term growth requires more than current China links (sept 24 2011)
Jul 27
I welcome the selection of Irwin LaRocque to be the new Secretary-General of CARICOM. I know him to be a person of professionalism, integrity and proven commitment to regionalism. However, Mr LaRocque should not be given a basket to carry water. If CARICOM is to be re-energised and if the implementation deficit is to be addressed; Mr LaRocque will need to have the full support of the Heads of Government for reform of governance to provide legal teeth to the decisions of CARICOM organs and to establish an executive authority to oversee implementation.
Norman Girvan
27 July 2011
Jun 19
Free Them! Free Them!
The propaganda we will now expose
Free Them! Free Them!
The Cuban Five are National Heroes!
May 17
In my C.L.R. James Memorial Lecture, I recall his arguments for Federation in 1958 and reason that they hold good for regional integration today. I argue that ‘insular independence’ has run its course; and that the regional option is both a survival imperative and the only means of realising the ‘national project’ as understood by those who dreamed and conceptualised it throughout our history.
May 12
C.L.R. James Memorial Lecture of the OWTU, Trinidad, 12 May 2011
CLR James was arguably, one of the outstanding personalities of the 20th century. In a life that spanned nine of the century’s decades he embraced most of its great social movements with passion, eloquence, and brilliant insights. His impact extended far beyond his native Trinidad and Tobago to the entire Caribbean, Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States and Africa…
Feb 23
The expulsion of the Haitian National U-17 football team from Jamaica has led to anti-Jamaican demonstrations in Haiti, burning of the CARICOM flag, and a threatened rupture in diplomatic relations between the two countries. This detailed, sober account of the incident by the President of the Haitian Football Federation to Haitian President Rene Preval raises disturbing questions about the treatment of the Haitians by the Jamaican medical and other authorities and suggests that deeply rooted prejudices against Haitans may have played a part–questions that need to be answered. Dr Bart concludes by sayiing “the most difficult aspect of the experience was the repressiveness, the aggressiveness, I would even say the hostility of the medical team, which every day, harassed a delegation of minors, while the other delegations were treated differently. It is clear that there was predisposition, and psychological aggression was perpetrated against these Ambassadors of our country”.
English translation by Myrtha Désulmé, President of the Haiti-Jamaica Society, email myrtha1804@yahoo.com
