…the more Caricom spins wheels
Maybe it’s a virtue in diplomatic circles not to spring surprises at meetings. But our Heads of Government in Caricom aren’t “diplomats”, are they? They’re leaders of our longsuffering peoples who’ve been waiting for them to deliver on their promises for over half a century.
In his memoir, “From Third World To First”, Lee Kwan Yew reminisces about how “advanced” the leaders of the Caribbean saw themselves at meetings of the Commonwealth, with all their theories of “underdevelopment”, “dependency”, etc, etc. Yet without all that fancy talk, he took his little island-state Singapore, with the same ethnic divisions and British colonial heritage – and starting BEHIND where our countries were economically in 1965 when they got independence – to first world status!
Yet, here’s one of our leaders, at the 37th Meeting of the Caricom Heads of Government (Caricom HoG) – 50+ years after we were given independence, saying WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE CARIBBEAN, SHOULD COUNT OUR BLESSINGS!!! And what exactly are those blessings?
Well, he should’ve spoken to PM Holness of Jamaica who complained bitterly about the treatment meted out to his citizens when they show up in TT or Barbados. Even dogs don’t have their cavities or orifices searched. He should’ve spoken to President Bourtese of Suriname who pleaded for there to be cooperation to add value to our primary products such as bauxite which can be turned into aluminium.
After all, it was way back in 1967 that two (then young) economists Havelock Brewster and Clive Thomas put out a plan for the West Indies to industrialise itself. Why can’t Caricom have a joint venture where they put up the capital for Hydro Power in Guyana, and use that to manufacture aluminium from our bauxite? Isn’t that what the “Common economy” is all about? So should we be thankful that we’ve put it on “pause”?
And so we were also exhorted by the leaders to have coordinated efforts on crime. Have they also looked at Singapore’s crime statistics? If they can wipe out poverty, haven’t our vaunted intellectuals assured us this will wipe out the greatest push factor in criminal behaviour: poverty?
Point of the matter, no one gets off by beating up on Caricom for its shortcomings. No one enjoys beating up on a comatose patient. But like the Brits – our role models for centuries – the Caribbean people have just about had it with this “union” business.
To use a crude but graphic Americanism, the leaders should either s*it or get off the pot.
…the more decisions are bizarre
Infrastructure – or more precisely, the lack thereof – is one of our many Achilles heels. Every study in the past half a century has pointed out the need for us to get with an infrastructural programme. And what pray tell are some of these “Achilles heels”? Roads. How about that one from Lethem to Brazil?
Electricity. We gotta abolish blackouts and, more importantly, allow ourselves at long last to compete with TT’s US 5 cents/kWh in manufacturing? How about Amaila Falls Hydro? Bridges. Well, we have to just look at the lost man hours caused by the blockages at the Demerara Harbour Bridge. And this is just the tip of a very long list of needs.
So you’d think the Government would place some priorities on these things as the money comes in, nuh? NO! We’re futzing around with wind and solar which are just gravy – and ignoring the Amaila meat!
And now we’re told a British grant for infrastructure will go for a bridge at LINDEN – not at the Demerara Harbour!
Are we deliberately shooting ourselves in the foot? Go figure!
…more we ignore the less fortunate
The NGSA results are out. And all of us will go “goo goo, gaga” (not like the “Lady”) over the little darlings in the top 1%.
But could somebody please spare a thought for those in the bottom 20%??
