CARICOM must defend its Sovereignty

CARICOM countries, already facing formidable development challenges of their own, have been engaged in a number of meetings with high-level US officials following the announcements by the Trump administration of a number of measures which can pose significant threats to the development of our region if implemented.

These punitive announcements arise not from any conflicts between the USA and the members of Caribbean Community, but from long-standing disagreements between our northern neighbour with principally three countries- China, Venezuela and Cuba and its determination to force small nations like those in the Caribbean to cooperate with its quest to impose its will on the rest of the world.

US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who has responsibility for Foreign Affairs, is this week leading a high-level delegation for talks with CARICOM first in Jamaica, and then on separately to Suriname and Guyana with a focus on enlisting both countries, as well as Trinidad and Tobago in its crusade against Venezuela. Ahead of the talks, the US administration announced a number of punitive measures which can have very harmful effects on trade and economic development in the region.

For instance, starting next Tuesday, April 2, a punitive 25% tariff on trade between the US and any countries purchasing oil from Venezuela is to come into effect.

This is part of a series of measures aimed at cutting off trade and economic relations between Venezuela and the Caribbean. In the case of Cuba, the US focus has been on blackmailing Caricom countries with visa restrictions, first on government leaders and officials to end the very effective cooperation in medical services. Earlier this week on radio, Prime Minister Gonsalves spoke about having a constructive engagement with US officials where all documentation regarding the Cuban Medical Mission here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, were provided in the engagement between both parties.

There also has been information in circulation that our sister Caribbean countries, Antigua, St Kitts, Dominica and St. Lucia which are part of the citizenship by investment scheme, involving the sale of passports, have also been singled out for visa punishment. In addition, CARICOM has been threatened with an ‘either for us or against us’, in regard to their relations with China.

These are all significant measures which not only affect trade and development but also significantly impinge on the sovereignty of Caribbean states. The US policy is also aimed at sowing division among Caribbean nations.

For instance, on the eve of Rubio’s visit to Jamaica the US said that Jamaica, headed by Prime Minister Holness, was “like-minded” to the US administration.

Rubio has also called on Trinidad to end its cooperation with neighbouring Venezuela in joint oil and gas exploration and development, while the US is aggressively stoking the fires in the ongoing border disagreement between Guyana and Venezuela.

Clearly the USA, once considered a friendly “big brother” to the Caribbean, seems engaged in bludgeoning the region into servility and to accept policies which are antithetical to their own interests. The misuse of the visa programme is particularly odious given the long-standing relationship between the peoples of the USA and CARICOM. It is important that unity among the Caribbean leadership is maintained as we resist these measures which are against our own interests and aimed at placing us in subservience. It is also vital that Caribbean leaders not only maintain their unity but also mobilize our people in defence of our sovereign rights to develop relations with whom we wish, just as the US does.