Dear Editor,
I recently noticed that a group of eminent Caribbean personalities are asking for public consultations on the EPA (and other important regional issues) with the EU and are in support of President Jagdeo’s assertions about the bullying tactics used.The Caribbean region had a long time to prepare for this; it was expected, but the leaders sat on their laurels sending out negotiators with the proverbial cap in hand. It all boils down to leadership and vision. It is not surprising that the Guyana President is shouting that the region has been short changed now. Did he not see it coming, what preparation did he and his colleague Heads of Governments make to deal with the impact of this…. oh yes, a new sugar factory which does not have enough sugar cane to run it at economic capacity. Or their negotiations were all bad on strategy.
The EU over the years gave the Caribbean governments money to improve their econo-mies, in addition to more than favourable prices for the commodity exports. And I hope the distinguished Caribbean persons who are now protesting the EPA and are calling for consultations are thinking of pushing Carib-bean leaders to reorganize the Caribbean economies to respond rather than beg for further time: there is no more to get. I dare say too many important regional issues are left to the traditional powers that be. We work too much in silos and our regional civil servants seem to think they alone have all the answers. I hope citizens’ engagement is utilized more in the Caribbean to formulate positions, responses and encourage policy coherence. Did Carib-bean governments seriously believe that the EU would continue to wait on them and put its own future in jeopardy. Look at the Guyana government’s response: a consultation with the private sector which is largely a merchandise trading outfit. What about the other stakeholders and why consultations only now. Come on guys, point to concrete efforts at making sustainable initiatives at improving your econo-mies to respond to the impact of globalization, oh yes CSME, I forgot, but too late and no take off. We concentrate on what is of most value to us, that is, the consolidation of party power for governance, we like to enjoy the trappings of power and lose sight of what really matters.
Yours faithfully,
Evan Thomas
