Keynote Speaker at the inaugural Grenada Revolution Memorial Foundation Inc. (GREMFO) lecture, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, has said unions such as the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and CARICOM have given the region competitive edge in foreign policy.
He said that the sizes of small island states have not worked to their advantage.
“Let us be frank, my dear friends our small size has not traditionally given us a competitive advantage,” he said. “However we now have the opportunity to leverage the technological advances in transport and communication along with the political structures of the economic unions of the OECS and the single market of CARICOM to better deliver the promises of development to all our people.”
He said the two regional groupings are “the ultimate testimony of how foreign policy may be a clear expression of faith in what can be achieved while maintaining our independence as nation states in this region.”
He noted further that the world economic crisis has taught many the virtue of unity.
He said, “I believe that the current recession has taught many of us the virtue of uniting: the imperative of diversifying our economies by encouraging entrepreneurship and putting our God given resources to optimum use and the need to remain steadfast in our mission to generate wealth in such a way that all our people receive a fair share.”
He mentioned that the treaties which has been signed “in the name of our people” must be made living instruments that would make a difference.
“We as leaders of this great Caribbean civilization must ensure that in the most sincere expression of our foreign policy, namely in our regional treaty arrangements, that we keep the needs of the people at the center of the integration movement,” the Prime Minister noted.
He was speaking on the topic “The Grenada Revolution, Foreign Policy and Development of Small Island States in the Present International Environment”.
The lecture was organized by GREMFO and was intended to be an annual lecture series to mark the “anniversary of the advent of the Grenada Revolution.”
It was delivered in Grenada earlier this week.
PMis makinga good point for regional unity, it was tried in the 60’s selfishness made it fail.
Caribean unity lies in the university of the westindes kids are not taught nothing about running a country.or getting along with their fellow human beings
What a disgrace to the memory of Maurice Bishop, having this man speak in his memory.
What is wrong with these Grenadians? Don’t they do their homework?
De Marxists pm of Dominica
The people of Grenada, led by Maurice Bishop and his Patriotic movement, struggled consistently, protested, demonstrated against the corrupt Eric Gairy dictatorship. The mongoose gang arrested, brutalised those who were advocating for justice, equal rights, good governance . The Grenadian ruler was accountable to no one.. Across the board, in all spheres, all institutions were under his control.
The revolutionary spirit of the oppressed people were aroused. The dictatorship was overthrown by the wrath of the people.
Bishop was about respect for sovereignty and love for country. Bish would never sell Grenada’s immunity/ passports for money.
Bish would never seek massive, quick enrichment through dubious means.
What were the alleged corruption Bishop was involved in? How many instances illegal practices have been revealed, with facts and irrefutable evidence, by those in Public Office in DA?
In Bishop’s name the struggle continues against dictatorship and…
Regional unity is exactly like love and charity…if you cannot unite with those around you how can you unite with those that are far from you.?..if you cannot love those that you can see around you ,how can you love God that you have never seen?Stop the conflit for power and think less about your monthly wages in order to love each other for the good of dominica…
Greater regional unity from all aspects (movement of people, security, education, healthcare, tourism,etc.) would benefit us all in terms of development. Instead, we continue business as usual, ever country for themselves.
And patience is the mother of all virtues and the godmother of madness, my Dear Leader.
What a travesty having Skerrit speak at this forum.
The more I listen to Kamala, the more disappointed she appears as a talk show host. I have absolutely no problem with her choice of political party, after all, her husband is the PRO of the Labor Party. My concern is how her intelligence and understanding of media work has disappeared over the years. On the Heng this morning, Kamala was trying to compare Skeritt’s leadership qualities with that of Mr. Lennox Linton, the yard stick used, was Skeritt’s speech on foreign affairs in Grenada. As far as she was concerned, Mr. Linton has never been invited to give a lecture to any organization as regards politics. Maybe, she might be right, but she must ask herself, how long has Mr. Linton been a politician. Maybe, she should compare Mr. Linton’s ability as a political advisor to Eastern Caribbean political parties against Skeritt’s articulation as a political lecturer. This morning callers of Q95 questioned as to who wrote Skeritt’s speech.
Doc. you are right. Maybe she should compare winners and losers, Linton winning three seats and Skerrit losing three despite the benefit of a large war chest and imported votes. That says more about the two than whether or not they have been invited to speak.
History should recall the ONE CARIBBEAN -HISTORIC CONFERENCE which led to the ST GEORGES DECALRATION the forerunner of the OECS which came into being 9 months later.
The leaders then which included GEORGE ODLUM and PM LOUISY of St.Lucia Maurice Bishop PM of Grenada and his team of leaders ..O.J Seraphin PM of Dominica and now PM St Vincent Ralph Gonsalves .
The vision then was to bring about a unification of the Eastern Caribbean ..The leaders WHO SPOKE AT A HUGE RALLY ON THE SAVANNAH ..saw a some of the great orators expressing what today is said by PM Skeritt….the road to political unity of the OECS seem still very distant as the populace of the OECS are very unexcited and have not created the pressure needed to force the political directorate into a federation of the OECS ..HOW LONG WILL WE WAIT TO MAKE THE BOLD STEP OF POLITICAL UNITY ?
Maurice typo.
He was a personal friend & educator I object to his disrespect.
PM Skerrit speaks of the virtue of regional disunity & the foreign policy advantage of being in power.
This is what it is in practice.
He mentioned that the treaties which has been signed “in the name of our people” which have not been made available to the population ej MOU between China & Dominica.living instruments that would make a difference.
The lecture was organized by GREMFO and was intended to be an annual lecture series to mark the “anniversary of the advent of the Grenada Revolution What an insult to Maurice.
Seeing I got the first crack ,here I go!
noted further that the world economic crisis has taught many the virtue of unity.
He said, “I believe that the current recession has taught many of us the virtue of uniting: the imperative of diversifying our economies by encouraging entrepreneurship Like our sales of passport sales by our affliates Passport agents who sell at the highest prices offered give the required amounts to the tresuary and share &/or keep the difference if it way above asking price. Also putting our God given resources to optimum use ej selling our tarish etc at low prices to foreign capitalists. and the need to remain steadfast in our mission to generate wealth for our selves as leaders in such a way that( a few only) all our people receive the major share.” We can build Villas buy speed boats opposition and all.
We as leaders of this mascarade Caribbean civilization fail to ensure that in the most insincere expression through our power grab and maintainance.
It seems to me that there are situations in which unity is called for, but there are also situations where striking our own path may bear more fruit. I don’t agree that small island developing states inherently cannot become economically prosperous without tying themselves to others. One advantage we have from being small is that we are nimble, we’re in a position to change policy rapidly to adapt to changing conditions or new information, which giant bureaucratic empires like the U.S. or China cannot do.
A number of small countries, even isolated ones with scant natural resources, have gone from minimal economic activity to prosperity. Hong Kong is the classic example, but there are others, including Singapore, the Caymans, Bermuda, the Channel Islands. It may be wise to consider that free markets and an approach that welcomes investors and skilled labour has led those places to do so well. Our high level of outmigration isn’t helping, though.
Although I agree with most of your thoughts, I believe overall, the English speaking Caribbean could / would be better off in terms of development by becoming more unified. In my opinion, the English speaking Caribbean should simply be one country (but that is a different conversation) and I know the federation attempt in the 50’s -60’s failed.
If I am not mistaken, most if not all of the small island states you listed either have or had major developmental assistance from a mother country (England)…whereas countries like DA and most of the English speaking Caribbean received marginal assistance from (England).
Thanks, Dominican. I certainly don’t mean to say that there should be no cooperation, I’m all for free trade, free movement, a single customs area, etc. Our shared currency with the rest of the OECS seems to have worked reasonably well, especially since being a multinational currency board it’s insulated us from the harm that can come from poor monetary policy. I also appreciate that we now appeal to the CCJ and not the Queen, and a common passport is fine also.
On the other hand, what would we get out of unity in, say, tourism? Our destination is so different that contributing to a joint campaign probably wouldn’t give us much return. And I respectfully disagree that full political union is right for us, because if either Trinidad or Jamaica were in such a union then our interests would be completely overshadowed by theirs. And whatever happens, however much we cooperate, neither the OECS or Caricom must ever, ever, EVER be allowed to levy taxes.
Our?? Remember youa are a denizen The forester
I realise you’re probably proud of yourself for knowing a grown-up word like “denizen”, but to be honest you’d be more interesting if you had anything to offer about actual ideas and not just the colour of people’s passports. I’ve started two businesses in Dominica, I married a Dominican, I have a son who is a Dominican, and I love Dominica more than any other place in the world. If that’s not good enough for you, then you can go straight to hell.
Ha Ha Ha Ha ….. Dude, Oh please! Practice what you preach!
Speak about all corruption ……………..Also about the bedbugs @ the PMH.