Call for globally organised economic investment in the Caribbean
Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, is calling on countries in this hemisphere to give the Caribbean “an economic leg up” at this time.
He made this comment while highlighting some of the challenges the region currently faces, such as issues of public health and climate change. He additionally pointed out the “Caribbean world is where globalization started” as well as mentioned occasions historically when the region has assisted other countries in their time of need.
“We say this hemisphere needs to stand up for us. We stood up for this hemisphere. We always remember when the revolution of Latin America was taking place, when all the great movements of Venezuela through the Colombia, all those movements were taking place. It was Haiti that sent troops and resources and finances to promote the Independence movement of Latin America. The Caribbean at the time was at the centre of that process. It gave its full support to Bolívar and so Haiti was having the energy and the resources to support the Bolívar revolution.”
He added, “The Caribbean has given a great deal to this hemisphere, it has given a great deal to this world. It is now the time for this hemisphere and this region to reciprocate and give to the Caribbean what it deserves and what it has a right to, which is an economic leg up at a moment of growing despair.”
Sir Hilary spoke during the Organisation of American States’ (OAS) virtual discussion titled ‘A Chat with the OAS’ recently. This day was also observed as Pan American Day.
In his address, he also remarked “that the global community, indeed the hemispheric community, is not as sensitive to the economic dislocation and decline issues facing the Caribbean as they should be. We believe that there are reasons for this. Undoubtedly, the historical issues are important in framing a proper answer, but there is still a perception somehow in the hemispheric and global community that the Caribbean is not entitled to a special carve-out based upon what they have had to go through”.
Also speaking on the occasion was Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, who highlighted the actions the OAS has taken to support member states, in particular its CARICOM members, in responding to the challenges imposed on nations by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He commended “CARICOM member states for immediately stepping up to the plate and opening their doors to support their fellow Caribbean nationals in their time of need”. He additionally expressed solidarity with and support to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He called “on international communities to continue this effort to support the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the aftermath of this natural disaster. We need additional financial resources, we need more donors engaged, we need our local countries providing technology and financial resources”. (MG)