In charge of our own destiny
by Peter Morgan
There is a high level conference going on at Sherbourne Centre with a number of experts contemplating what should be done about Moving the Caribbean into the 21st Century. I wonder whether any of them read a thought-provoking article by David Jessop, Executive Director of the Caribbean Council for Europe, in the Press last weekend. It would have provided them with a reference point. Mr. Jessop understands Caribbean matters as well, if not better, than any other non-Caribbean person. It is his contention that the well-being of the people of the Caribbean is no longer of the least importance or interest to the rest of the world, specifically North America and Europe, upon whom the region has always counted to help solve its problems. With the disappearance of the communist threat we are no longer of strategic importance to the US and regional pre-occupation with Cuba is a constant irritation to powerful people in Congress. The only issue which interests the US in Caribbean affairs is its unwelcome role as a conduit for illegal drugs. While all Governments cooperate in the campaign some are regarded as being less than enthusiastic particularly with regard to money laundering. In sum, the level of concern which the US has for the region can be gauged from the banana issue and Mrs. Albright’s unilateral, disdainful cancellation of the meeting with the region’s leaders. The Europeans are too preoccupied with their own problems – the faltering Euro, the enlargement of the European Union, the far-reaching disputes with the US at the WTO and the disastrous intervention in Yugoslavia. Rehabilitating the people of Kosovo alone is estimated to cost US$16 billion so you can be sure it will wind up costing double that. Compared to the many trouble spots in the world the Caribbean is looked upon as peaceful and relatively well-to-do, with the resources to be prosperous if it would only manage its affairs properly, but disunited and weak in international affairs. The region can be safely left to stew in its own juice without becoming a problem to anyone else. So, for better or for worse, the Caribbean is now at the point that every country has boasted of, on attaining independence – we are now solely in charge of our own destiny to the extent that any country is in these days of the global village. There would be some humanitarian help in case of a hurricane or other natural disaster but other than that they are telling us in no uncertain terms ‘See for yourselves and don’t come bothering us’. Regionally, however, there is the customary turmoil – a never ending strike in the potential breadbasket, Guyana, chaos in Haiti, serious economic problems in Jamaica and Suriname, failure on the part of some Government to meet financial commitments resulting in an economically strapped OECS in which Antigua is looking to get out while Barbados is looking to get in. Domestically it seems that difficult times are ahead. We are at a crossroad as regards sugar. With the elimination of preferential prices around the corner are we to invest very substantially with a view to achieving economic production as suggested by one expert, Theodore Birkett, or as proposed by others, produce just enough sugar for the local market, molasses for rum, syrups and niche market special sugars while using more land to reduce our $300 million dollar food imports? The only certainty is that we cannot continue as we are with inefficient factories, a $300 loss on every ton of production and failure to meet even the quota as seems likely this year. Serious long-term decisions need to be taken. Our Minister of Tourism sees no need to change anything and assures us that all is well so there’s no point in rehashing the problems and pointing to the answers which have been proposed by so many people. The offshore sector has its own problems with the OECD report and excessively high cost of communications. According to resident diplomats potential investors in this field have been given pause by the upsurge of racial rhetoric in recent times and will take a lot of convincing that it is just rhetoric. There is no pleasure in producing a litany of woe but if the international experts are gathered to advise us on survival in the 21st Century then I hope that the situation which faces the Caribbean will be put to them frankly so that the Conference will not turn out to be just another session of the Mutual Admiration Society. If they do have some practical suggestions to offer the region we shall be grateful but then will come the biggest hurdle of all implementation. • Peter Morgan is a former tourism minister in a DLP administration. 
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