Caribbean Facing Serious Challenges

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One Caribbean Nation.

By William Skinner

The Caribbean is facing both regional and Global challenges that threaten all the gains made as the perpetual struggle to totally free itself from an almost inhumane past , engineered by the debilitating slave trade and colonial domination.

Having struggled successfully to forge the unique Caribbean civilization by becoming independent nations and abandoning the British empire , the region now stands almost flat footed because of the erratic machinations of the  United States of America as it seeks to influence the region and place demands as to what friends and allegiances it should have. The message from Washington is blunt and clear : support us or you would face vicious and serious challenges.

The quick capitulation of some regional leaders in matters relation to Venezuela and the capture of President Maduro and its desire to use Caribbean islands as surveillance tools for the American military expeditions are causing frustrating fractures, in the absence of a united foreign affairs policy. Additionally, Caribbean states are being forced by Washington to refuse or abandon bilateral agreements with Cuba , whose long and impressive assistance in assisting regional governments in areas of health and education, has been welcomed and critical to the region .

The regional grouping CARICOM ( Caribbean Community ) , finds itself in strained circumstances because of the failure to design a united response to these threats.

This attempt by the USA to establish global domination by using the regions weak economic base and in many cases, the lack of resources  along with no real military capabilities ,  as disadvantages to exploit, must be faced with a strong refusal regardless of the price that it may be forced to pay.

Turning our region into some toy to be used in the interest of America’s or any other country’s ambitions , is not what our forefathers fought or dreamed. The Caribbean must not be used and then abandoned when those now trying to appear invincible , are no longer present , and we are left to clean up the mess they foolishly created.

We did not come this far, to once more fall under the dictates,of any country. We remain open to foreign investment that builds our economies and creates benefits for our people .

Our leaders will not be so stupid to be manipulated by those who see us as docile inhabitants, who are waiting or selling our sovereignty, to anybody or any country.

William Skinner  is a frequent commentator on Caribbean  affairs

 

 


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