Caricom summits and Vincy Mas

06.JUL.07

For Vincentians, the annual mid-year Summit of CARICOM Heads of Government often gets subsumed by the Carnival festivities. With both taking place at the beginning of July, the deliberations of our regional leaders tends to get lost among the flotsam and jetsam of the National cultural festival. It means that far too often there is not enough enlightened local discussion and debate of the decisions of the CARICOM Heads and how they impact on Caribbean society.{{more}}

This year the focus of the high-level decisions is not just on deepening the regional integration process but trying to do so by ensuring that the appropriate mechanisms are put in place to ensure implementation. It is an open secret that even the best-intentioned decisions of the CARICOM leaders often flounder on the altar of inertia or blind national interest, forcing deadlines to be forever postponed or shelved altogether. Our leaders need to set the tone by putting in place the necessary machinery to be able to move from conceptualization to implementation.

Central to the regional integration process are two issues relating to travel: that of regional transportation facilities and that concerning freedom of movement of the region’s citizens. Much has been said about air and sea transportation in the Caribbean over the years. There has been no positive outcome. In the case of air transportation, there have been massive operational failures of regional airlines, resulting in a haemorrhaging of taxpayers money in Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad, Barbados and the OECS countries. Even private sector initiatives in the case of Caribbean Star, Carib Express, EC Express etc. have not borne fruit.

Now there is the sore point of LIAT, a contentious issue even among the Heads. While there is merit on both sides, the people of the region want to see positive action in relation to making travel more affordable. That must be the bottom line or it will be difficult for the region’s people to continue to either defend LIAT or justify continued public investment in it. There could not be a more appropriate time for discussion on regional transport. This is the regional high-point for inter-island travel, what with the various Carnivals, the August vacation and the annual inflow of Caribbean migrants. Many have complained that it nearly costs as much to travel, say from Barbados to St. Vincent return as a cheap New York – Barbados flight. Even the further development of our national Festivals can be affected. Our leaders must spare no effort at resolution of this issue.

So as we enjoy our Carnival weekend, there is much to return to next week. In the meantime, have CLEAN FUN and help to enrich the cultural experience.