After schmoozing with the Caricom HoGs (Heads of Government, thank you!!) in the land of calypso and pan, Secretary of State Blinken’s gonna touch down in our dear mudland tomorrow. As we all know, the occasion was Caricom’s 50th Anniversary – since the foundational Treaty of Chaguaramas was signed on July 4th 1973 right there in T&T!! Your Eyewitness doesn’t think it was a coincidence that July 4 was chosen. The Caribbean leaders obviously knew this was the date the Yanks declared independence from the Brits, who’d ruled all of us around that time. Well…not us and T&T, we came two decades later – but you get the idea!! Caricom was gonna also set us free!!
Anyhow, time has moved on – and a lot of water has flowed under the bridge. In 1973, we were in the heat of the Cold War. After selling us out on American paranoia about Jagan and the PPP, Burnham was dancing between the raindrops to show other former colonies – dubbed the Third World – that he was “progressive”. As his “progressive” domestic policies progressively drove us deeper into poverty and societal decay, our great migration to the US and Canada was building up a head of steam!! The US tolerated his election rigging because of the PPP bogeyman.
But here we are in 2023, and we’re seeing our SECOND American Secretary of State in three years!! This one barely staying home to wolf down his country’s traditional BBQ’d fare before flying down to our Caribbean – and NOT for our sun, sand and surf!! Our oil is greasing his path – but we shouldn’t forget that we’re also strategically of consequence, since, serendipitously, we’re also next door to the largest oil reserves on planet Earth!! That’s right, baby!! It’s not just our 13 billion barrels of the stuff that makes the world go round!
Well, it’s quite obvious that our Government has learnt its lesson well with a new Cold War brewing – between the US and China this time. With a visit to China coming up at the end of the month, President Ali sent a strong message on July 3 to President Biden: “As we continue to engage at the bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels on national and international issues of mutual interest and concern, my government remains committed to deepening cooperation with the US as our most strategic and valued partner.”
That’s right!! No hemming and hawing, like Cheddi did back in 1961: the US is “our most strategic and valued partner.” And you can bet your bottom dollar that, tomorrow, all the stops will be pulled out for Secretary Blinken!! Let’s never forget Sparta’s advice to the Melians: The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must!!
…Child protection controls
Maybe it’ll be locking the stable door after this horse has bolted, but as our experience with child sexual abuse has shown the world over, horses will continue to bolt, unless we tighten our systems. And, to our credit, we evidently did institute systems to deal with this sickening scourge.
Your Eyewitness feels that the penalty for convicted pedophiles ought to be mandatory castration – chemical or physical. Let the convict have his pick.
Then there’s the law that allows the victim of the alleged crime to request that charges not be pursued. The bottom line is that if a law’s been broken – statutory rape by a pedophile – then the system must prove innocence or guilt, and the perpetrator must be punished or freed based on evidence. The statements already given should be allowed to be presented, and the jury can decide on their probity or otherwise!!
Then, finally, there’s the vexed matter of state agencies investigating state officials. Shouldn’t there be an ombudsman to deal with complaints about their performance??
…alternatives to hegemonies
The BRICS grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa is meeting this August, and Ethiopia has just applied to join them. They’re in line behind Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia and Iran!! And counting!!
