| From NACLA (On the blog page links referred to work) |
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| Written or Posted by ( Delmance Moses (Ras Mo) ) |
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Two thousand and twelve holds both a great deal of uncertainty and cautious optimism for the Caribbean. The election of new governments over the past year in Jamaica and St. Lucia, the controversial re-election of an incumbent in Guyana, and the selection of Michel Martelly out of a flawed election in Haiti has sent mixed signals about the overall direction the region is taking. With the global economy still in an extremely volatile state, the predominately service-oriented economies of the Caribbean remain extremely vulnerable to the action or inaction of Europe and the United States.
In Guyana, December’s election saw Donald Ramotar of the incumbent People’s Progressive Party emerge with the win—albeit <http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Ruling-party-to-lead-Guyana-s-first-minority-government_10299781>with a minority government. The delayed release of election results triggered a wave of controversy and political tension within the country that has yet to cease. The Opposition leader, David Granger, just announced the possibility of a <http://www.stabroeknews.com/2012/news/stories/01/18/granger-says-not-afraid-of-new-elections-2/>snap election in the country to capitalize on the current controversy surrounding the PPP. In Haiti, the sombre two year anniversary of the earthquake has come and gone, signalled by another round of <http://reliefweb.int/taxonomy/term/9909>lofty reconstruction promises in what many consider to be a tragically stalled effort. The accountability and legitimacy of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti continues to erode after being unapologetic for their role in <http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/7/11-0059_article.htm>introducing cholera into the country and releasing a group of Uruguayan soldiers accused of raping a young boy without charge, despite the existence of<http://ijdh.org/archives/24073> video evidence. President Michel Martelly has been under fire for failing to overcome a standstill over the implementation of his national education plans, while proudly <http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/991592--martelly-plans-army-re>calling for the re-establishment of the notorious Haitian army. Hopefully 2012 will be the year of lessons learned, starting with a concerted and coordinated effort to invest in sustainable and publically accessible partnerships and investment. In Jamaica, Portia Simpson Miller’s return to power has come with the promises of shaking up the country <http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1115938--simpson-miller-daring-to-take-jamaica-in-different-direction>by tossing out the monarchy and finally making Jamaica an independent republic. While perhaps more symbolic than substance, it offers to deliver important political capital, which will be much needed, especially when facing the more daunting issues of managing and reducing debt, corruption, and crime. Miller was partly elected on her promise of using state funding <http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/portia-simpson-miller-sworn-in-2nd-time-as-jamaicas-prime-minister/2012/01/05/gIQABlAOdP_story.html>to reduce the unemployment rate. For the United States, Miller’s election confirms their worst fears of a diversion from the IMF’s prescription. As <http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110606/lead/lead2.html>WikiLeaks revealed, “In such a scenario [the election of Miller], Jamaica could go the way of Haiti: fatally driven by crime, poverty, drugs, gangs, social disintegration, and emigration - all more reasons for strong US support for Golding's ongoing reforms.” Whether or not Miller will be able to run Jamaica in the interests of the Jamaican people will be a story to watch throughout 2012. In St. Lucia, Prime Minster Kenny Anthony <http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/st_lucia_news/520048.html#axzz1jrRTNE8H>swept back into power after a five year absence, defeating Stephenson King of the United Workers Party. Facing extensive infrastructure and housing damage due to Hurricane Tomas in 2010, increasing crime, and a volatile tourist market, the Prime Minster is currently <http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Ties-with-Taiwan-at-stake-in-St-Lucia-vote_10279248>looking east in a risky effort to play China and Taiwan against each other in order to secure the largest promises of aid and development for St. Lucia. Finally, the emergence of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) signals an important shift away from the traditional U.S. influence in the Caribbean. It is too early to determine whether or not a competing organization like CELAC will be able to deliver on the promises of sustainable development and strengthen South-South cooperation in the Caribbean, or if the Caribbean will fare as a forgotten partner in this predominately Latin American venture. Several Caribbean countries (Dominica, St. Vincent, and Antigua) have already joined ALBA, revealing that the interest in new forums of cooperation and partnership are not based on motives of political opportunism, but rather due to the overwhelmingly negative experience the Caribbean has had with neoliberal globalization. Looking at the history of the lack of benefits the Caribbean has had in adopting initiatives like the Caribbean Basin Initiative, it is hardly surprising |
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Comments
I want to be simle and not get hyperthetical.. YOu go about in the rural areas and you will see the vilages are dead with limited to no subsantial economis activity. These families are getting barrels and support from relatives in the USA and USVI. The country is just not making money.
We have CARICOM and its role and purpose needs to be reviewed and upgraded to one just of technical but like the EU to one of setting political and social and economical standards and with teeth like the EC Commission where their is that indepoendence it can really monitor counries who are deviatoing in god practice of social programmes, structure, good governanceetc.
Barbados is the only island in the country where I feel when I walk in I feel transparncy, god governance, acopunatnility etc. I give many examples, they are there.
The questions yo are asked about poverty I take it that yo have ben out of Domininca for sometime and realy not in tuned to the levels of poverty hat exists in our rural aras. The poverty report is available and the IMF, CDB etc and other NGO`s have reports and commented on it.But , do not believe them, go take a drive through the Crib Territory where you wil see and witness first hand the level of deprication, exclusion etc. There is masive incest and prostitution and heavy teenage preganancy in there. It is realy sad.
I do not like the Chavez approach of governemnt and interference which is staged and TV managed and with the level of oil and reserves Venezuela has, there is too much poverty, slums, shanties, murder etc in Venezuela..
Chavez is stage personality and has not reduced the poverty in Venezuela, all he does which Skerrit and others adopt is to wave credit cards, have big ralliews,give out money ( NOT investment) and give out to people and we say we are taking care of the poor. It is called begging, hand outs and mendicancy - it is a fraud.
Some leader from the Caribbean region must stand up and talk of real development for us, beyond that of OECS, CARICONM etc in that it works to the benfit of our peoples and not promoting and creating political stars.. It is a fraud and poverty we are promoting .We have to find creative ways to make change in our development and all these countries \ mentioned, their role is to help, but we must not be dictated to, we must have our national development plan..Too much talk and ro ro in DA
God Bless
PD
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