ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION TALK IS INTEGRATION IN REVERSE
Jamaica Observer Editorial

Kingston, , June 03, 2009 -- One of the perennial items on the agenda of the Caricom Heads of Government meetings, we have noted, is the disappointing performance of the West Indies cricket team.  However, after bemoaning the good old days, our leaders usually take note of the issue and concoct their trademark platitude.

At least, the Windies have turned the corner again, fresh from their triumph over Scotland and have reassured the ever faithful that they are confident going into the 20/20 World Cup. Not even a statement of "we know where we are going" has been forthcoming from our venerable Heads of Government on how the region plans to survive the global financial crisis.

The crisis, by all definitions, has raged over the last nine months to a year and no savant can predict a date for recovery of the world economy. Only the self-deluded believe that they can build confidence in financial markets by talking positively.

To date, the Caricom Heads have failed to agree on a coherent joint strategy to help the region to cope with the global economic tsunami. Most countries have announced a raft of measures to alleviate the exigencies of the economic crisis. What is missing is a Caricom plan.
The recent meeting of the Heads in Trinidad produced nothing specific. They did not discuss the report of the taskforce led by Caribbean Development Bank president, Dr Compton Bourne, and commissioned by finance ministers, several of whom are also prime ministers.

Instead, they mandated that another taskforce chaired by former IMF staffer, Mr. DeLisle Worrell, who was a member of the Bourne group, repeat the assignment. This latest tome is to be ready for the July conference of Heads. Let us hope that it is not only going to be noted but some decisions will be taken. The Caribbean people deserve better than the prevailing litany of promises.

Why is it that Caricom Heads cannot agree on anything except that they should meet again? Is the state of indecision a case of too many cooks or too many chiefs? The demeaning cross-talk through the media about movement of people was a non-issue in the colonial era when West Indians could live and work anywhere in the region. Does it really matter that Sparrow was born in Grenada or Sean Paul in Jamaica? The angst over illegal migrants is integration in reverse.

We wonder if our leaders no longer believe in integration. Because we all have our own flag does not mean we should not collaborate to tackle common problems. Global economic problems and transnational drug-trafficking require a regional response, particularly given the small size of our states. This is not track and field or football where a couple of brilliant individuals can top the world. Caricom is not blessed with the political equivalent of a Usain Bolt or a Brian Lara.

Regional co-operation gives Caricom and each individual member state a better chance of surviving the global financial crisis. Delaying the fundamental decisions and urgently needed actions will only make the situation more difficult. It can't be that hard to see that small countries with big egos deprive us of the benefits of regional co-operation.

Our political masters are playing mass while Caricom is collapsing. The region cannot afford the indecision. It is well past time for action.