Jul 17
Let us admit the fact that as individual islands and certainly in the case of Jamaica, if we continue down our current insular path of Governance and Economic Under-Development we will not survive as a sustainable society. Norman Manley and those who proposed a Federation as the path to sustainable development were correct over 50 years ago and the concept seriously needs revisiting. Here are some simple facts…
I could not agree more with Bobby, on every single one of his five points.
Whats more I happen to know that there are people all over the Caribbean who share these views and this philosophy of development, and who are frustrated and disappointed (to put it diplomatically) with the shortsightnedness of our political ‘leaders’ who for the most part lack a strategic sense of how sustainable development, as Bobby has articulated, simply and succinctly, is the only viable development path for all of us.
We must now find ways to turn this sentiment, which is widespread in the region, into concrete networking, advocacy and pressurising to inform the public and push our leaders along the path of sustainable development and strong and effective regional governance.
A start has been made by a group of young people calling themslves the Caribbean Movement for Civil Empowerment, who organised a Petition to the CARICOM Heads of Government, see http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/caribmove/
I know it will not be easy but what other choice do we have?
Norman
Couldn’t agree more.
One giant to tackle is Caricom – directly.Iit has become a large organisation of not regional development impact; a talking shop with no vision and no focus on the regional development needs. Its cyclical generation of reports which have no plan of action nor focus on of delivery further retard any glimmer of development in the region.
It has focused on interactivity amongst its various departments, each delivering in a context which demonstrates a lack of understanding that the world development platform has actually moved on, and so have the regional criticalities for growth- it has not moved with the times, nor with the real need regarding the implementation of pragmatic regional development solutions that secure a viable future platform for region:
energy security, food sovereignty, water security, waste management, trade to name a few.
But where to start ?
E
Elizabeth, here are some concrete proposals that were laid before CARICOM leaders recently by the Chairman.
1. Governance Reform for Effective Implementation
(i) Create a legal basis for implementation of decisions of the Conference by the delegation of competence in specific elements in four areas of our (i) Common Market/Free Trade Area, (ii) External Trade Policy, (iii) Regional Security and (iv) Environment and Climate Change Policy.
(ii) Conclude the appointment of a Secretary General with a mandate to negotiate and oversee the reform of Community Governance in its legal and administrative aspects.
2. Prioritising the Benefits of Economic integration
Select for immediate priority action the following three areas of regional public goods (RPG): (i) a Regional Agricultural Production and Food Security Programme; (ii) Maritime Transport Services and (iii) a Renewable Energy Production Programme.
Request the CDB to convene a consortium that brings together the principal regional public sector agencies and interested private sector entities for setting up public-private partnerships to attract and execute investment financing in potential growth sectors.
Initiate the design and timely operation of a Regional Programme for transformation of the SME sector including access to capital, credit, technology, organisational management and related inputs to foster. the development of entrepreneurship among the SME Sector. (
3. Movement of Community Nationals
(i) Ensure that the existing agreed ten categories of free movement of Skilled Community Nationals work efficiently, smoothly and seamlessly across all member states. Fast-track the implementation of CVQ administrative arrangements;
(ii) Fast-track the Protocol on Contingent Rights of Community Nationals.
(iii) Apply the automatic six-month stay consistently and transparently by all member states subject to agreed exceptions and derogations
(iv) Agree that Community nationals will have the right of appeal in cases of alleged unfair and/or otherwise inappropriate treatment.
(v) nsure that immigration and other officials who interact with Community nationals in member states rigorously observe the policies and agreements on the rights of CARICOM citizens travelling within the Community.
(vi) Expeditiously review the schedule of implementation for full freedom of movement of Community Nationals;
(vii) Urgently consider the establishment of the Office of Ombudsman for Immigration Affairs and a CARICOM Code of Conduct
4. Mobilising Civil Society in Support of Regional Integration
(i) Mandate the establishment of a Permanent Forum of Non-State Actors with formal membership of all Councils of the Community
(ii) Agree on a timetable for the provision in each member state of a legal basis for the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society
Thank you so much for this. I was not aware of this before. .
What is the status of this? When was this presented?
What were the action points taken away from this meeting with the heads of state?
Who is taking responsibility for an implementation plan?
I note in point 2, there is no mention of marine stewardship – all islands have a fishing industry and should have a common interest in the security and sustainability of marine resources.
There is no mention of development criticalities, beyond a renewable energy production programme, nor a common approach to water resources management, waste management, regional telecommunications platform development (interconnectors)
All that said… it is however, a credible start and I am interested in the direction of discourse from the Chairman. But I need to see plans for action/implementation/follow through.
There is considerable high level rhetoric, we are not short of that in the Caribbean; but what we are short of is execution and credible platforms for implementation in the interest of regional development.
The latter is what I am desperate to see.
Elizabeth I agree with your comments. In particular is there and agreed action plan laying out what is to be done, by whom, when and if there are costs have sources of finance been identified? RS
Elizabeth/Bobby,
1. The proposals are contained in a document which was circulated by PM Tillman Thomas of Grenada, in his capacity as Chairman of CARICOM, in May of this year, prior to the ‘Retreat’ of Heads of Government on re-energising CARICOM. The document was placed in the public domain and is is posted at
http://www.normangirvan.info/re-energising-caricom-integration-prime-minister-tillman-thomas/
It was sent to all Caribbean media, but was virtually ignored — that is a big part of our problem, by the way.
2. The document was not given serious consideration by the Heads. It seems to have become another casualty to the general paralysis that afflicts Caricom. In my view this is due fundamentally to the absence of strong leadership at all levels.
3. The major players in CARICOM are the leaders of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados. Each, for different reasons, appears incapable so far of providing strong leadership to the regional movement. Golding and Persad-Bissessar are both preouccupied with their internal political problems, and there remain doubts about the sincerity of their commitment to the regional cause. Jagdeo demits office later this year–he is on the way out. And Stewart of Barbados has recently referred to the regional integration movement as a “corpse”. Nuff said.
4. This is not by any means a situation that gives grounds for optimism about bothering with the regional enterprise at all. Yet we must ask what other choice we in civil society have, but to exert every effort to mobilise public opinion to pressure these leaders to make real changes to the system of governance to ensure timely and effective implementation of decisions, and focused action on a select number of areas where collective action can make a difference, such as renewable energy, the environment, food security, and maritime transport; — in other words those identified in the Thomas document.
5. There are some encouraging signs. More and more people are speaking out on this matter, including newspaper editorials in Jamaica–usually thought to be hostile to strong regionalism–Barbados, Trinidad, and Guyana; some elements in the private sector; and most recently, a group of young people calling themselves the Caribbean Movement for Civil Empowerment. The last name organised an on-line Petition on goverance reform that was sent to the Caricom Heads in St Kitts.
http://www.normangirvan.info/caribbean-peoples-integration-petition/
The Petition has so far garnered over 180 signatures. That might not appear to be many, but it is a start. I have copied this message to the Petition organisers.
Also, recent statements in CARICOM by Ralph Gonslaves and Persad-Bissessar indicate that they are aware of the disillusionment and scepticism of the regional public and are anxious to “do something” to improve their credibility on these matters. Right now, that “something” seems to be appointment of the new SG. That by itself will not solve the problem of implementation, but if the new SG is minded to push for governance reform, then it might be a step to that end.
6. I am convinced that we have all or most of the technical studies and solutions that is needed for action. The basic problem is political. We need to find ways to pressure these goverments to address the issue of governance as the crucial step towards taking effective action on the environment, sustainable development and the myriad other problems that afflict us. Whatever this group can do, collectively and individually, it should do. The alternative is to resign ourselves to impotence and frustration.
Take care, Norman