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I’ve often hinted at my personal nationalism, as my admittedly isolationist philosophy has always been “Jamaica first.” Nevertheless, I’m fully aware, at the same time, that integration among the Caribbean countries (CARICOM, CARIFORUM, or whichever) is extremely important in this increasingly globalized world.
Of course, this year makes it 50 years since the first really promising attempt at regional integration, the 1958 West Indies Federation. Most of us here on the Reggae Boyz Forum will no doubt recall (from those high school history lessons) that by 1962 this forward-looking attempt had failed, primarily as a result of Jamaica’s decision, but also as a result of several other complex issues.
Fifteen years after Jamaica’s pull-out, another and longer lasting effort was made with the creation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in 1973. Today, not much seems to have changed since 1962 as far as integration of the various Caribbean nations are concerned.
I copied the following article from yesterday's Sunday Observer.
Where the CSME is feared
We don't want it here. You are opening up yourself to the good and the bad - but mainly the bad, say some GrenadiansBY CASSANDRA BRENTON Associate editor - Sunday publications brentonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, July 20, 2008
It is a cool, wet Tuesday night in St George's, Grenada and a group of residents are sharing a few drinks and laughs at a pub in Point Salines.
The atmosphere is genuinely warm and friendly, providing a potent shot to calm the frazzled nerves of bone-weary travellers.
Map of the Caribbean showing the long travel path Observer Associate editor Cassandra Brenton had to take from Jamaica to get to Antigua.
One Smirnoff Ice, chased with debates with the locals about Grenada's politics and the value of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), rapidly dulled my memory of flight JM 95 missing its first attempt to land at the Point Salines International Airport. The pilot could not see the runway because of the poor weather conditions. Fortunately, he found it on the second attempt.
Half-an-hour later, as I sat around the table sipping on the cool beverage with my new friends, my wretched four-hour flight delay at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston was long forgotten. Gone, too, was the smouldering resentment I had silently harboured during the almost four-hour-long flight because I would be forced to overnight in Grenada en route to Antigua.
My trip was rushed, and all the direct flights to Antigua were full. Ironically, I was on my way to attend a Newspaper Editors' Workshop on Caricom's bold thrust - the CSME - which allows, among other things, the free movement of labour and capital across national boundaries, as well as for "hassle-free" travel, including provisions for Caricom national/non-Caricom national lines at ports of entry, common E/D (embarkation and disembarkation) forms and Caricom passports.
But as Wednesday morning approached, these bitter feelings rapidly gave way to easy laughter, which rose above the Calypso music playing in the background and the melodious sounds of chirping crickets. I told them I'm only in Grenada for a few hours to catch a 'shut-eye' before making my way to the CSME workshop at the Jolly Beach Resort and Spa in Bolans, Antigua.
This Editors' Workshop was geared at promoting greater awareness and understanding of Caricom among practitioners, and in particular the CSME. The presentations include "Free Movement of Skills and Labour", "Making a living in the Caricom and the CSME" and "Trade and Commerce and Competition". The approximately 30 editors from member states will also engage in practical exercises on how to simplify writing on CSME and Caricom issues.
The Single Market (SM), facilitating the free movement of skills and capital, is in place in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. The plan also includes, among other things, a single monetary standard by 2015.
According to Caricom, work on the single economy "is ongoing".
But my Grenadian friends - who already share a single currency (the Eastern Caribbean dollar) with their neighbours in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) - are sceptical of the CSME.
The group of five men and one woman told the Sunday Observer that that the SM will only benefit larger territories.
"We don't want it here," all five people sitting at the table said in unison, while requesting anonymity.
"The infected are going to infect the uninfected," interjects the pub owner - who remained standing - meaning that nationals from larger countries, which tend to be plagued by higher rates of crime and violence, could introduce these bad elements into his homeland.
The pub owner was, however, more analytical in his arguments.
"I have mixed feelings about the CSME," he continued. "There are advantages and disadvantages," he said. "You are opening up yourself to the good and the bad - but mainly the bad." He said that while his country would benefit from the exchange of different cultures and languages, Grenada's unemployment and crime levels were likely to increase.
"Our crime rate, which is heading for a record this year (15) would increase," he noted.
"We have fewer crimes here, and we want to keep it this way," one resident interjected.
"The more qualified people in the bigger islands will be able to move where the better jobs are, while the less qualified will have to try and catch up," the pub owner continued.
Under the SM at present, the category of workers eligible to move and work freely within the community include university graduates, media workers, sportspersons, artistes, musicians, teachers and nurses.
Caricom plans to implement full and free movement of labour within the CSME by 2009.
Meanwhile, the pub owner noted that if Grenadians are to effectively compete for jobs elsewhere in the region then the government has to "fix" the country's education system, which all six residents concurred was "poor".
Until then, the residents said Grenada will forever be at a disadvantage.
"Grenada is trying to prepare for the CSME, but we are not ready," the Rastafarian in the group declared.
Invariably, the discussion turned to politics, a favourite pastime of most Caricom nationals. But unlike in Jamaica where these heated debates sometimes turn deadly, the Grenadians remained level-headed and calm. They listened and respected the views of the others in the group.
Of course, this year makes it 50 years since the first really promising attempt at regional integration, the 1958 West Indies Federation. Most of us here on the Reggae Boyz Forum will no doubt recall (from those high school history lessons) that by 1962 this forward-looking attempt had failed, primarily as a result of Jamaica’s decision, but also as a result of several other complex issues.
Fifteen years after Jamaica’s pull-out, another and longer lasting effort was made with the creation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in 1973. Today, not much seems to have changed since 1962 as far as integration of the various Caribbean nations are concerned.
I copied the following article from yesterday's Sunday Observer.
Where the CSME is feared
We don't want it here. You are opening up yourself to the good and the bad - but mainly the bad, say some GrenadiansBY CASSANDRA BRENTON Associate editor - Sunday publications brentonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, July 20, 2008
It is a cool, wet Tuesday night in St George's, Grenada and a group of residents are sharing a few drinks and laughs at a pub in Point Salines.
The atmosphere is genuinely warm and friendly, providing a potent shot to calm the frazzled nerves of bone-weary travellers.
Map of the Caribbean showing the long travel path Observer Associate editor Cassandra Brenton had to take from Jamaica to get to Antigua.One Smirnoff Ice, chased with debates with the locals about Grenada's politics and the value of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), rapidly dulled my memory of flight JM 95 missing its first attempt to land at the Point Salines International Airport. The pilot could not see the runway because of the poor weather conditions. Fortunately, he found it on the second attempt.
Half-an-hour later, as I sat around the table sipping on the cool beverage with my new friends, my wretched four-hour flight delay at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston was long forgotten. Gone, too, was the smouldering resentment I had silently harboured during the almost four-hour-long flight because I would be forced to overnight in Grenada en route to Antigua.
My trip was rushed, and all the direct flights to Antigua were full. Ironically, I was on my way to attend a Newspaper Editors' Workshop on Caricom's bold thrust - the CSME - which allows, among other things, the free movement of labour and capital across national boundaries, as well as for "hassle-free" travel, including provisions for Caricom national/non-Caricom national lines at ports of entry, common E/D (embarkation and disembarkation) forms and Caricom passports.
But as Wednesday morning approached, these bitter feelings rapidly gave way to easy laughter, which rose above the Calypso music playing in the background and the melodious sounds of chirping crickets. I told them I'm only in Grenada for a few hours to catch a 'shut-eye' before making my way to the CSME workshop at the Jolly Beach Resort and Spa in Bolans, Antigua.
This Editors' Workshop was geared at promoting greater awareness and understanding of Caricom among practitioners, and in particular the CSME. The presentations include "Free Movement of Skills and Labour", "Making a living in the Caricom and the CSME" and "Trade and Commerce and Competition". The approximately 30 editors from member states will also engage in practical exercises on how to simplify writing on CSME and Caricom issues.
The Single Market (SM), facilitating the free movement of skills and capital, is in place in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. The plan also includes, among other things, a single monetary standard by 2015.
According to Caricom, work on the single economy "is ongoing".
But my Grenadian friends - who already share a single currency (the Eastern Caribbean dollar) with their neighbours in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) - are sceptical of the CSME.
The group of five men and one woman told the Sunday Observer that that the SM will only benefit larger territories.
"We don't want it here," all five people sitting at the table said in unison, while requesting anonymity.
"The infected are going to infect the uninfected," interjects the pub owner - who remained standing - meaning that nationals from larger countries, which tend to be plagued by higher rates of crime and violence, could introduce these bad elements into his homeland.
The pub owner was, however, more analytical in his arguments.
"I have mixed feelings about the CSME," he continued. "There are advantages and disadvantages," he said. "You are opening up yourself to the good and the bad - but mainly the bad." He said that while his country would benefit from the exchange of different cultures and languages, Grenada's unemployment and crime levels were likely to increase.
"Our crime rate, which is heading for a record this year (15) would increase," he noted.
"We have fewer crimes here, and we want to keep it this way," one resident interjected.
"The more qualified people in the bigger islands will be able to move where the better jobs are, while the less qualified will have to try and catch up," the pub owner continued.
Under the SM at present, the category of workers eligible to move and work freely within the community include university graduates, media workers, sportspersons, artistes, musicians, teachers and nurses.
Caricom plans to implement full and free movement of labour within the CSME by 2009.
Meanwhile, the pub owner noted that if Grenadians are to effectively compete for jobs elsewhere in the region then the government has to "fix" the country's education system, which all six residents concurred was "poor".
Until then, the residents said Grenada will forever be at a disadvantage.
"Grenada is trying to prepare for the CSME, but we are not ready," the Rastafarian in the group declared.
Invariably, the discussion turned to politics, a favourite pastime of most Caricom nationals. But unlike in Jamaica where these heated debates sometimes turn deadly, the Grenadians remained level-headed and calm. They listened and respected the views of the others in the group.
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