The Future of CARICOM

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"History teaches us that unity is strength, and cautions us to submerge and overcome our differences in the quest for common goals."- Haile Selassie 
The greatest obstacle to Caribbean unity and integration is the lack of a Caribbean spirit; sadly this is facilitated by our politicians’ despite the Region’s shared history of enslavement and colonialization. The recent remarks by the Prime Minister of Barbados and Chairman of the 15 member CARICOM bloc, Mia Mottley have once again exposed the unhealed wounds from the failed attempt at Federation among CARICOM states. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), originally the Caribbean Community and Common market, was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas which came into effect on 1 August 1973. The first four signatories were Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. CARICOM’s main purposes are to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared and to coordinate foreign policy. CARICOM major activities involve coordinating economic policies and development planning; devising and instituting special projects for the less-developed countries within its jurisdiction; operating as a regional single market for many of its members (CARICOM Single Market); and handling regional trade disputes. The Secretariat headquarters is based-in Georgetown, Guyana. In responding to being excluded from discussions with the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Prime Minister Mottley said, “We don’t look to pick fights. I don’t look to pick fights, but I am conscious that if this country does not stand for something, then it will fall for anything. As chairman of CARICOM, it is impossible for me to agree that my Foreign Minister should attend a meeting with anyone to which members of CARICOM are not invited. If some are invited and not all, then it is an attempt to divide this region,” Her remarks were uttered against the backdrop of the recent visit to Jamaica by US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Jamaica on Wednesday, January 22 for a two day visit and held discussions with Prime Minister, Andrew Holness. The Secretary of State visit comes at a time of mounting speculation in the Caribbean regarding the reasons for his visit and clear signs of a rift in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The US Secretary of State held round-table discussions with the foreign ministers of Bahamas, Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia. The views of the Barbadian Prime Minister found support with some of her CARICOM colleagues namely, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley. The foreign ministers of Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda did not attend the meetings in Jamaica. Additionally, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves praised the position taken by his Barbadian counterpart Mia Mottley. However, officials of the US State Department have also been reported as saying that Pompeo's visit is to advance the common interests of the US and Caricom in, “security, prosperity, development cooperation, and the promotion of democracy and human rights, and to commemorate our strong relationship with Jamaica as a partner and ally”. Nevertheless, with only six of CARICOM’s 15-member invited to the talks in Jamaica there are allegations of an attempt by the US to divide the region. Secretary of State Pompeo said, “There’s no intent from the United States to divide Caricom, not yesterday, not today,” Pompeo told reporters during a news conference in Kingston. “We want all the countries of this region to prosper and be successful.” The US Secretary of State was very frank in his remarks about Chinese investment in the Caribbean.  He cautioned Jamaica and the Caribbean against accepting “easy money from places like China”. Speaking at a policy discussion on US/Caribbean relations at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston, Pompeo questioned, “What good is it if it feeds corruption and undermine your rule of law. What good are those investments if, in fact, they ruin your environment and don't create jobs for your people?” It is an open secret that the United States does not recognize the current government of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. The United States is among a growing number of countries which recognizes Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela. Some political commentators as well as Caribbean Prime Ministers have pointed to another pressing issue for the visit of the US Secretary of State, that of the upcoming elections for Secretary- General of the Organization of American States (OAS). The United States of America is supportive of Luis Almargo, however, some Caribbean countries are not behind the United States candidate of choice. There are those inside and outside of CARICOM who have questioned from day one the effectiveness of CARICOM, and the recent developments will only add ammunition to those who are against any form of Caribbean integration or regionalism. Prime Minister Andrew Holndess said, “I am pleased to say that we found common understanding on the urgent need to scale up our security cooperation. The main focus will be on bolstering Jamaica's capacity to counter transnational organized crime, secure our borders and ports, and interrupt the flow of illicit weapons into the country,” said Holness. He added, “I cannot overstate the urgency with which we need to address these security matters.  The US Secretary of State reminded his audience in Kingston that the US and the Caribbean shared similar goals such as democratic ideals and that United States firms were a better alternative to Chinese investment.  Is there a rift in CARICOM or is this a situation of much ado about nothing? What is the future of CARICOM? In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking.
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo

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