Solidarity is critically important

The Prime Minister of this country constantly speaks to the nation about the importance of solidarity. There is as yet no measurable indication of how seriously our people take his exhortations, but each year there are tangible demonstrations of just what international solidarity means to us.

Over the past two decades or so, while it is true that our country has been making strides, it has also had to cope with the effects of a range of natural disasters which have wreaked havoc, economically and socially. Left to our own meagre resources, it would have been impossible for us to carry out the triple tasks identified, that is Relief, Recovery and Reconstruction. Fortunately, in this world, there are still people and nations which care. They demonstrate that by standing alongside those affected in times of distress in what is called solidarity. Most times that solidarity is expressed in a tangible form, gifts and donations of material, money or human endeavour.

In times of disaster, these are critical to recovery especially for small nations like ours, and the tens of thousands of poor people affected by the disasters. For us certainly, and for the people most affected, survival would have been amply times more difficult without solidarity. This week’s visit by the leaders of our Eastern Caribbean neighbours is another practical manifestation of that solidarity. It is not only in what contribution their countries have made to help us cope with Beryl’s disastrous effects. Their very presence and visits to the most affected areas alone is significant, a practical demonstration that they stand with us in our hour of need. There are those among us, some influential people among them, who scoff at demonstrations of solidarity. Their own selfish outlook leaves little room for such human

actions and their own approach is very transactional -what’s in it for me? It is important, especially in face of our practical experience, that we reject such selfishness and tendencies to value demonstrations of solidarity only in monetary terms.

It is not only in disaster relief that our country has been the recipient of international solidarity. On a developmental level, countries with varying political systems such as Taiwan and Cuba have made tremendous contributions to our social development. In international affairs it is the solidarity of nations of differing sizes and political outlooks which has enabled us to occupy important and influential positions in international and regional organizations. Regional solidarity has also been critical to helping us collectively withstand the cruel blows of the international financial system.

St Vincent and the Grenadines in turn, as a country, has been playing its part in demonstrating international solidarity which has enhanced our respect on the international stage. But nationally, there is a long way to go in enabling our people to understand and appreciate solidarity. Even the biggest beneficiaries of such solidarity sometimes demonstrate scant appreciation for it. That gap in our national consciousness must be plugged. It must become part of our national everyday understanding and teaching.