Dear Editor,
On Monday we are supposed to celebrate Caricom Day. Really, what for? Caricom has failed its peoples – every facet of Caricom, from integration, to security, to CSME, to even celebrating Caricom Day, a holiday that, unbelievably, only two territories observe.
This is the West Indian Federation fiasco all over again – the grand idea of forging a brotherhood of nations marred by the insularity of its political leaders.
We spent two years in Barbados in the early eighties trying to set up a business there. The horrors we experienced left us very bitter. We followed the rules but we felt sure that our problem was that we were Guyanese. Our daughter was entitled to a place at Harrison College after surpassing the required marks at Common Entrance. But she was denied a place and all we got was a lame excuse. Imagine this kind of treatment to a Caricom child! This added to our bitterness and we packed up and came back to Guyana.
What is going on at present with Guyanese in Barbados is appalling. Even if they have broken the immigration laws, should they be awakened in the wee hours of the morning? Are they terrorists?
I would like to know if these cases can be taken to the Caribbean Court of Justice. This behaviour does not bode well for Barbados. Given that it is a tourist-oriented country, it is to the detriment of the island when would-be visitors read about this unfortunate situation.
My mantra is still CARI-COM and CARI-GO!
Yours faithfully,
Gloria Lye
