It must have been a measure of Sir Shridath Ramphal’s increasing despair over the health of Caricom that he should have recently stated in a speech in Suriname that that country, led by former coup leader and dictator now democratically elected President Desi Bouterse, could “breathe new life” into the regional integration movement. Or maybe the region’s elder statesman was simply trying to shake Caricom’s collective leadership out of their apparent apathy.
One can never be too sure as to who are the greater optimists, those who believe in West Indies cricket or those who champion the cause of Caribbean integration. But just as the West Indies are playing with sufficiently less inconsistency and more conviction to suggest that the ignominies of the last 17 years may be put behind us – notwithstanding the fact that a 20 year-old Bangladeshi pacer batting at number 10 has just carted the West Indies bowling around the park for a century on debut – Prime Minister Kenny Anthony of St Lucia, in a speech to the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry on October 31, appears to have taken the first meaningful step by a regional leader towards addressing the state of Caricom, by recognising that there is indeed a crisis.
Dr Anthony, the current chairman of Caricom, was blunt in his assessment: “Our region is in the throes of the greatest crisis since independence. The spectre of evolving into failed societies is no longer a subject of imagination. How our societies crawl out of this vicious vortex of persistent low growth, crippling debt, huge fiscal deficits and high unemployment is the single most important question facing us at this time. Indeed, if Caricom wishes to be relevant to the lives of the people of the region, then that issue should dominate its deliberations at the next summit. Caricom cannot be seen to be impotent when societies and economies are at risk, on the brink of collapse.”
Ironically, these words came just a couple of weeks after Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel Stuart had asserted in a lecture at Cave Hill that the Caricom Single Market and Economy was still a “front burner” issue and that the region had made “commendable progress in advancing the creation of the CSME,” despite the criticisms and fears of many. Mr Stuart’s argument, however, that the CSME remained one of the most effective means of developing, protecting and promoting the regional economic space in an increasingly complex global economic environment sounded more like an attempt to put a positive spin on the lack of concrete progress, especially when juxtaposed with the decision of Caricom heads last year to put the CSME “on pause.”
But if, as JK Rowling wrote in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, “Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery,” then perhaps Dr Anthony is giving cause for cautious optimism in terms of restoring Caricom’s state of health, self-respect and international standing, when he says, “It may be dysfunctional, but it is real and it is alive. I accept, however, that all is not well” and adds “the Caribbean is, and has been for too long, stalled at a crossroads of indecision; stalled for so long that we are in danger of becoming anachronistic – literally out of time – and out of step with the rest of the world.” In this respect, the Caricom chairman recommends “stocktaking” and provides not only much food for thought but also urges action. A few of his points are worth highlighting.
The Caricom Secretariat “lacks a structure which would enable definitive outcomes, and now requires stronger management and the prioritisation of what matters most.” Dr Anthony declares that heads and, interestingly enough, civil society must “correct this.” Decision-making, moreover, must become less “cumbersome, layered, and bureaucratic” and more responsive to challenges in real time.
Nothing new there but, intriguingly, Dr Anthony also uses the word “supranationally’ and refers to the “supra-national reach” of Caricom. And although he does not actually tackle the need for a supranational authority to ensure the implementation of decisions, he argues that “when appropriate, Caricom must have the power and the resources to lead, setting both the objective and the tone of the dialogue, followed by a greater intensity of action.” Also, “Caricom, ever respectful of the positions of member governments, must not shy away from its role as the principal catalyst of the regional movement. Where strong economic argument is required, it must be made. Where moral suasion is required, it must be applied, and where sanction becomes the only remaining option that too must be contemplated.” All of which logically suggests a stronger role for the Secretary-General and, in the case of sanction, the contemplation of some sort of supranational mechanism.
Last week, in Montego Bay, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller of Jamaica called on her colleagues to “put their collective minds together” and recommit to the process of regional integration. Dr Anthony has issued a challenge to his colleagues and it will be interesting to see how they rise to it. He will be chairman of Caricom until President Michel Martelly of Haiti takes over on January 1, 2013 and he will continue to sit on Caricom’s steering committee, the Bureau of Heads, until July 2013. He has ample time therefore to use his considerable intellect and charisma to flesh out his ideas for the benefit of his colleagues and to persuade them of the need for action by the time of their next inter-sessional meeting in Haiti in February.
