ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada - The 15-member regional integration movement, CARICOM, Sunday began the second half of its march towards the next 50 years with regional leaders critical of what they presented as a failure of the media to highlight the successes of the bloc.
CARICOM leaders at the opening of their 47th regular meeting in Grenada on Sunday (CMC Photo)Host and incoming CARICOM chairman, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell urged the region “to shape our narrative” while Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali said it is time for the region to “boldy embrace” its successes and appealed to the regional media to highlight those achievements.
The highlight of the opening ceremony was the admission of Dutch-speaking island of Curacao as the sixth associate member of the grouping, whose other members are mainly former British colonies.
Former West Indies cricket captain Sir Clive Lloyd and Roderick Rainford, a former CARICOM secretary general, were given the region’s highest award, the Order of the Caribbean Community.
In his address, President Ali, the outgoing CARICOM chairman, said it was important for the region to start build systems that work for it and not systems that are imposed upon them, brushing aside those who have in the past consistently questioned the relevance of CARICOM that is ending celebrations marking its 50th anniversary.
“We have to build systems that work for our region, and this requires private sector, requires government, requires the academic community, we have to come together and build systems that work for us.
“We have to trust in ourselves. We have to have faith in each other, and you have to have hope about the future,” Ali said, noting that on the issue of democracy, CARICOM played a leading role in ensuring the political and socio-economic situation in Haiti improved significantly to the point where now the French-speaking CARICOM country now has a transitional administration in office.
“As chair of CARICOM, I sat with colleagues, the Secretary General and her team for hours upon hours, days upon days, we went to Jamaica. Jamaica convened a special meeting, invited all stakeholders,” he said, noting that even before the meeting in Kingtson, Guyana held a special breakfast with all international stakeholders and the region discussing Haiti.
Ali said that the long hours spent on Haiti was due mainly to the love the regional integration movement had for the people of Haiti and the need to ensure that Haiti was returned “along the path of democracy.
“Many media outlets in the region and extra-regionalally called us all types of names, tell us we are all in different types of pockets and you are a sell out. Today…we have a presidential council…and we remain strongly committed to the task of ensuring that Haiti returns to full normalcy and democracy .
‘We were never led to believe that we were in any pocket. The only pocket we were in, was the pocket of the people, the love of the people, the freedom of the people and the return to normalcy in Haiti.
“I want to thank every single member of the CARICOM family that allowed us to achieve this significant moment …and I say so to the leadership of Haiti and the people of Haiti that CARICOM remains strongly committed to you, a love for you and a love for the people of Haiti”.
Ali said he also wanted to recognise the work done by the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group (EPG) that included former prime ministers Dr. Kenny Anthony of St. Lucia, Bruce Golding of Jamaica and Perry Christie of the Bahamas “who worked relentlessly and to say to the leadership of Haiti openly…we are prepared to support Haiti with this group continuing its work outside (and) in support of you, not to lead, but in support of you”.
Ali said the EPG “remains a mechanism” to help and support Haiti on its journey to democracy and good governance”.
In his address, Prime MInister Mitchell thanked the regional countries that have come to the aid of his islands following the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 1 leaving in its wake death and destruction.
“Thank you CARICOM, thank you CARICOM for all you have done for Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” he said, recalling that when he attended his first CARICOM summit in 2022, he said then “we should ensure that CARICOM is not an institution that talk and talk and talk some more”.
But he said CARICOM has made significant strides over the past decades to the point that more countries are seeking to join the grouping and “also I know CARICOM just not only talk, and talk and talk some more”.
He said with the assistance of CARICOM, many buildings in Carriacou and Petite Martinque are now being repaired and funds have also been sent to Grenada by CARICOM countries.
“So who is coming to save us, who is coming to save us…so you see I know that CARICOM just not talk, and talk and talk…,” he said, telling delegates that he “would continue in defence of CARICOM…”
He quoted Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, as saying that “the only people who defend CARICOM are the politicians, where is your academia, where is UWI (University of the West Indies), where is civic society, where is the one mighty labour movement that shaped the politics..where is the modern day Uriah “Buzz” Butler.
“I say this because CARICOM doesn’t belong to the heads of government. It’s the Caribbean Community and we are not going to shape a vision for the next 50 years,” he said, adding that it has to be avision “that has to be shipped by the people of the Caribbean.
Mitchell said that CARICOM is the longest surviving “and survival is not an appropriate adjective, It is the longest striving integration movement in the developing world.
“We are talking in Latin America, we are talking Africa, we are talking Asia. There is no other like CARICOM. And so when we talk about persons wanting to become associate members, you’re not just talking about from within the region.
“There have been inquiries from countries far and wide as to whether there is the opportunity to have a relationship with CARICOM. And why is that? It is because the external world knows and recognizes the value of CARICOM.”
He said that even those at the United Nations “when the big boys and girls want your vote they find a way to come and walk around the chair with Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia…”
“So we must recognise or value. We must shape that narrative that says you have the same right as everyone else on this group. And I want us to appreciate that we have been tested time and time again. And yet we rise.”
Mitchell said on Monday he will address the regional leaders on the issue of the advances being made in technology.
“As chairman, I will champion an ambitious digital transformation agenda,” he said, adding “ we have an opportunity in the Caribbean to ensure that we do not get left behind in this technological revolution.
“And so, I will outline tomorrow a proposed strategy for addressing a number of issues across the digital transformation landscape ranging from cyber security to digital health to a digital skills one, amongst others. We owe it to the next generation of Caribbean citizens to give them the tools and the education to make sure,” Mitchell added.
The regional leaders will discuss a wide range of issues during the deliberations that will end on Wednesday, ranging from the agri-food systems, nutrition security; climate change and sustainable development; foreign policy to the ongoing CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Heads of Government will also review the progress toward the goals for full free movement and the 25 percent reduction in food imports by 2025. A Strategy for Regional Digital Resilience 2025-2030 will also be on the table for discussion.
