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The Editor, Sir:
The time has come for Carib-bean leaders to declare their commitment to CARICOM or the lack thereof. As an organisation, CARICOM has failed to put forward clear positions on the Caribbean area and it has not adequately articulated the concerns of the people of the region to the international community.
When one considers other regional arrangements, we see greater partnerships and a movement towards closer integration. The European Union has gone the route of a Parliament while CARICOM seems stuck in a nationalistic and antiquated mode. The recent comments by Trinidad's prime minister, first in suggesting that T&T was not an ATM and later in the face of a humanitarian crisis, suggesting that Trinidad would need to see how it would benefit as a precondition to assistance is distasteful. When [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]Greece's[/COLOR][/COLOR] economy almost collapsed, recently, the European community rose to its defence. They made suggestions and they offered help.
Trinidad, because of its current financial strength, feels itself superior to its Caribbean neighbours. It does not consider that the time may come when it may need assistance from other Caribbean countries. It fails to acknowledge that part of its success and economic strength is based on the access it has to many Caribbean markets. The huge trade imbalances and the unfair trading practices of Trinidad do not augur well for CARICOM.
White elephant
Also, the Caribbean Court of Justice has the potential of looking like the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium - a white elephant on the budget of Jamaica. Much has been expended to set up the court in the form of a trust and little use is being made of it. Trinidad, too, has expressed reservations in recent months about its support for the judicial institution. We, therefore, have to make a decision on the way forward.
Jamaica cannot continue in CARICOM without much benefit accruing to its people. Skilled workers still do not move easily to other Caribbean countries and despite a CARICOM [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]passport[/COLOR][/COLOR], free movement through the region is an alien concept. In the UK, other European residents can enter, work and access facilities without the shame of being second-class citizens. Every good leader protects the interest of his people and if Trinidad continues to benefit from CARICOM without being willing to share whether its natural gas or to allow our patties to enter freely, [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]Jamaica's[/COLOR][/COLOR] leaders will need to make a decision whether to continue in this body.
Jamaica must protect the interests of its people and if CARICOM does not offer us anything or if we continue to be disrespected and exploited, then the time may be nigh to withdraw: One from 10 does indeed leaves zero.
I am, etc.,
HAROLD MALCOLM
jamaicanlawr@yahoo.com
The time has come for Carib-bean leaders to declare their commitment to CARICOM or the lack thereof. As an organisation, CARICOM has failed to put forward clear positions on the Caribbean area and it has not adequately articulated the concerns of the people of the region to the international community.
When one considers other regional arrangements, we see greater partnerships and a movement towards closer integration. The European Union has gone the route of a Parliament while CARICOM seems stuck in a nationalistic and antiquated mode. The recent comments by Trinidad's prime minister, first in suggesting that T&T was not an ATM and later in the face of a humanitarian crisis, suggesting that Trinidad would need to see how it would benefit as a precondition to assistance is distasteful. When [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]Greece's[/COLOR][/COLOR] economy almost collapsed, recently, the European community rose to its defence. They made suggestions and they offered help.
Trinidad, because of its current financial strength, feels itself superior to its Caribbean neighbours. It does not consider that the time may come when it may need assistance from other Caribbean countries. It fails to acknowledge that part of its success and economic strength is based on the access it has to many Caribbean markets. The huge trade imbalances and the unfair trading practices of Trinidad do not augur well for CARICOM.
White elephant
Also, the Caribbean Court of Justice has the potential of looking like the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium - a white elephant on the budget of Jamaica. Much has been expended to set up the court in the form of a trust and little use is being made of it. Trinidad, too, has expressed reservations in recent months about its support for the judicial institution. We, therefore, have to make a decision on the way forward.
Jamaica cannot continue in CARICOM without much benefit accruing to its people. Skilled workers still do not move easily to other Caribbean countries and despite a CARICOM [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]passport[/COLOR][/COLOR], free movement through the region is an alien concept. In the UK, other European residents can enter, work and access facilities without the shame of being second-class citizens. Every good leader protects the interest of his people and if Trinidad continues to benefit from CARICOM without being willing to share whether its natural gas or to allow our patties to enter freely, [COLOR=blue! important][COLOR=blue! important]Jamaica's[/COLOR][/COLOR] leaders will need to make a decision whether to continue in this body.
Jamaica must protect the interests of its people and if CARICOM does not offer us anything or if we continue to be disrespected and exploited, then the time may be nigh to withdraw: One from 10 does indeed leaves zero.
I am, etc.,
HAROLD MALCOLM
jamaicanlawr@yahoo.com
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