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ADDRESS
BY
THE MOST HON. P.J. PATTERSON, O.N., P.C., Q.C., M.P.
PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA
TO
THE JOINT SESSION OF THE ST. LUCIAN PARLIAMENT
THURSDAY, 1 JULY 2004
President of the Senate,
Mr. Speaker,
Honourable Prime Minister,
Honourable Leader of the Opposition,
Honourable Members of the Senate and the House of Assembly.
Introduction
Permit me to express my heartfelt appreciation to my colleague, Prime Minister
Anthony, for his kind introduction and gracious words of welcome.
My delegation and I are delighted at your kind invitation to visit this
beautiful island and to experience the traditional warm hospitality and
manifestations of goodwill and friendship so characteristic of St. Lucia. We are
also privileged to personally bring you fraternal greetings from the people of
Jamaica.
In addition to our valuable relationship by way of CARICOM, Jamaica and St.
Lucia have given a special importance to our bilateral relationship. Twenty-five
years of diplomatic relations, characterized by cordiality and mutual respect,
attest eloquently to this.
In today’s world, closer interaction among States is gaining increasing
significance, particularly for small countries such as ours. Our very survival
is dependent on our ability to keep pace with rapid, complex and far-reaching
developments in the international and hemispheric arenas. To protect our
national interests we are required to respond to them in a timely and decisive
manner.
It is, therefore, for me a signal honour to have been asked to address this
august Chamber, to share with you a few of my own thoughts on issues of mutual
interest, as we seek to strengthen our bilateral relations and chart the course
for national development and regional cooperation throughout the Caribbean.
I am privileged to address a Parliament where there is no need to preach the
sermon of constitutional democracy, because it has flourished here for decades.
The greatest threat, not so much to civil and political rights but to the full
rights of our people as human beings, springs from the persistence of our
underdevelopment.
The Global Context
Honourable Members,
The modern world is by nature complex. Each new era brings its own set of
challenges. Globalisation represents the major challenge of this twenty-first
century. Nations, large and small, must make adjustments in order to gain the
theoretical benefits it offers, but we who live and have our being in small
countries such as ours suffer a significant disadvantage.
Our small, vulnerable economies, with their inherent constraints and
limitations, are hard put to survive, much more to commandeer our fair share of
any benefits we are frequently assured the new order should permit. At times,
the situation looks grim and our prospects seem desperate but we cannot retreat
to the path of despair.
As a people, we are not unaccustomed to adversity. The students of history among
us may wish to debate whether the challenges our people faced in 1804 or 1904
were any less formidable than those of 2004! They were admittedly different but
then we had no voice at all in the corridors of power. Whatever the verdict, we
must summon today the resilience, strength of character, and cultural certitude
that has ensured our endurance through these many decades.
There can be no doubt that however daunting the social, political and economic
developmental challenges we face, we can and must overcome them all.
Mr. Speaker,
Globalisation continues to produce rapid and profound changes in all aspects of
economic, social and political life. The gap between developed and developing
countries, between rich and poor, continues to widen, with the skewing of income
levels increasingly unfavourable to the poor.
In 80 countries, the per capita income has been reduced to below that of a
decade ago. The income gap between fifteen of the world’s richest and that of
the poorest stood at 74:1 in 1997, as compared to 30:1 in 1960.
The UNCTAD World Economic Report for 2004 points out that despite the apparent
improvement in global economic prospects, large imbalances remain in the world
economy, triggering uncertainties about the sustainability of economic optimism.
Equally, or perhaps more telling, is the newly published Report of the World
Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization, entitled “A Fair
Globalization: Creating Opportunities for All” prepared by the International
Labour Organisation (ILO). The Report concludes that the present pattern of
globalization must change and needs “an urgent rethink” of current policies and
institutions of global governance:
“Inequalities, within and between countries, the lack of equal opportunities and
poor governance of globalization, make the present path morally unacceptable and
politically unsustainable.”
We are invited to present a common vision of fair globalization that puts people
first, and shifts the debate from an exclusive focus on market efficiency to the
needs and aspirations of people, in terms of opportunities for decent work,
food, water, health, education and a liveable environment.
This is what all of us in this Chamber and other enlightened Leaders of the
South have been saying consistently, but we are either greeted with deafening
silence or branded as heretics of the market ideology. This practice resulted in
the intransigence which led to the breakdown of trade negotiations in Cancun. We
must persevere in our primary goal of improving the quality of life of our
people. We must exploit all means available to promote the sustainable
development, security and prosperity of all the peoples of our Region.
We have felt deeply the negative effects of globalisation, particularly as it
relates to the outlook for commodity exports, vital as they are to many of our
economies in the Region. No one needs to remind any St. Lucian of the
significant effect on economic growth and social stability from earnings in this
sector.
Caribbean economies continue to feel the impact of the inevitable erosion of
preferential trade arrangements which comprise a significant share of our
exports, consequent on the acceleration of the global liberalization processes.
Our bananas and sugar have already fallen casualty to this trend and, for a
country like St. Lucia, this is tantamount to taking away one of the lifelines
of its economy. International competition for foreign capital which is necessary
for continued economic development programmes has increased.
In addition, limited progress in global trade negotiations, coupled with the
downward trend in flows of Official Development Assistance, have stymied
progress in the implementation of international commitments made at Doha,
Monterrey and Johannesburg. Achieving the internationally agreed development
goals remains elusive. We require substantial economic growth over the longer
term and a higher degree of political determination.
We are cognizant of the fact that, despite repeated calls to alleviate the debt
burden of many of our countries, relief has not been sufficient to fully remove
the obstacle to development and to put our economies on a path towards achieving
a sustainable debt position.
This situation is further compounded by the continued decline of private capital
flows to developing countries, constraining development in critical areas such
as health and education. At a time when the threat of the HIV/AIDS pandemic is
of major concern, and the literacy and numeracy of our citizens remain as
priorities in our development agenda, the Region is disappointed at the lack of
progress in this area. Health and Education are critical to collective and
personal development.
We in the Caribbean must therefore strengthen our resolve to be more creative in
our economic diversification efforts and the building of our human capital. We
must explore the potential of the non-traditional sector and emerging
industries, examining more closely the requirements for competitiveness and
identifying ways of achieving, in the most efficient way, the delivery of goods
and services to our clients.
In times past, we enjoyed a competitive advantage in the production of primary
products. Those days are gone. We are now compelled to develop, and in some
cases create, our own areas of competitive advantage in the service sector, in
tourism and in areas requiring high levels of creative skills.
Now more than ever, knowledge truly is power. Human resource development has
become even more pivotal for a region our size, with our relative lack of
natural resources.
In response to this imperative, CARICOM has developed a policy and strategic
plan to provide those skills required to ensure that our economic development
goals can be successfully met.
We must be fully committed to:
• The concept of life-long learning and the importance of continuing education
to ensure functional literacy and numeracy;
• The continuous upgrading of the professional and technical competence in the
public and private sectors;
• Research and development as a way of life and a means of improving production;
• The importance of science and technology and the advances in
telecommunications as all-pervasive factors to be effectively and appropriately
used.
We must now focus more sharply on exploiting the specific advantages that the
countries of the region enjoy in global markets. These include our natural
resources, however limited; human resource specialties; cultural products. In
the past, others have sought to exploit our geographical location. It is time we
did so for our own benefit.
This is why Caribbean governments have been seeking to create an enabling
environment for both local and overseas investors so that our people can reap
the benefits from tourism and allied industries.
The linkages that tourism has with agriculture, manufacturing and entertainment,
make the hospitality industry an engine of growth for the entire economy.
Despite the many festivals of its kind, St. Lucia has been successful in the
development of your own Jazz Festival – a simple example of how to take
advantage of product differentiation, name recognition and other distinctive
characteristics. The current marketing term for this is “branding”. If your
brand is strong enough, it gives the type of competitive advantage to which I
refer.
Despite the vagaries of the international travel industry, both St. Lucia and my
own country, by means of reinforcing our brand in the market place, have
rebounded from the negative impact of the travel risks associated with the
threat of terrorism. But we dare not drop our guard.
Initiatives by the Government of St. Lucia to modernize its banana industry and
technically equip itself in preparation for the changes to take place in the
banana regime in 2006, are also highly commendable, as you seek to make the
necessary adjustments to cope with new trends and policies in international
trade.
The unprecedented array of external trade negotiations in which we are currently
involved, requires us to make the best possible use of our limited resources, as
we continue in our quest for special and differential treatment provisions in
the FTAA process and elsewhere. This has to be crafted in order to facilitate
structural adjustment and the promotion of development of small developing
economies, in particular, small island developing states.
Mr. Speaker,
While we continue to grapple with the economic realities of globalization, the
traditional notions of political sovereignty and the primacy of the nation state
within international relations are being seriously threatened, highlighted by
global tensions following the events of September 11. The emergence of a single
Super Power, and the understandable preoccupation as to its own security
concerns within this new environment, have far-reaching implications for the
Caribbean and the conduct of our international relations.
In this regard, we must assert a strong collective will to respond to the
threats to multilateralism, to counter the dangers of terrorism, the growing
spread of illicit trade in narcotics and other psychotropic substances, as well
as the proliferation in small arms and light weapons. Within this context, there
has been a resurgence of trends towards regionalism evidenced in the
proliferation and strength of regional blocs, as countries seek strength in
numbers to cooperate in confronting a multiplicity of challenges.
In this hostile milieu, it is more urgent than ever that CARICOM States empower
themselves to respond to the new imperatives of the global environment, a move
which give greater urgency to the Region’s integration efforts.
The Integration Movement
Mr. President,
The eve of CARICOM’s 31st anniversary finds us at an interesting juncture in the
integration process: on the one hand, eager with anticipation about the powerful
potential of our integration movement, while on the other, moving with cautious
optimism as we contemplate the uncertainties of an increasingly competitive
market place. However, we remain convinced that the fundamental purpose of
CARICOM is to achieve collectively what we cannot accomplish individually, so as
to improve the quality of life of our citizens on a sustainable basis.
Caribbean people, rather than acting as separate states, must first view
themselves as a “community”, particularly in their relationship with the rest of
the world. It is this portrayal of self which will ultimately determine how the
world sees CARICOM and the impact we have as a collective force on the
international stage.
Having survived as the oldest integration movement among developing countries,
we must not be distracted by what appears to be the daunting agenda of a complex
international environment. As a firm believer in the value of integration, and
speaking as one who has witnessed the resilience of the movement in over three
decades of challenges, I am in no doubt whatever that our only movement can be
forward, as we propel CARICOM towards realizing its full potential.
In this respect, the Rosehall Declaration remains our guiding light towards
fortifying the Community machinery and deepening the integration process, as we
seek to secure our place in a world characterized by constant change and complex
challenges. Here, the question of governance becomes important, providing a
platform for constant review and adjustment to ensure efficiency in the
management of our affairs, including speedy actions, decision-making and
implementation at the national level.
CARICOM has served the Region well. It has provided an important vehicle through
which common positions on critical foreign policy issues can be developed and
coordinated. It has enabled functional cooperation in several fields. Within the
community market, it has provided a framework for growth and maturity of many
regional industries. It has provided a forum to showcase the creative talents of
our people and most significantly, has been able to command great respect and
influence within international fora, despite limitations of size and resources.
Honourable Members,
Our next big step on the journey from Chaguaramas relates to the implementation
of the CSME and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
The CSME provides an expanded “domestic market”, a building block for CARICOM
integration into the wider trade arrangements such as the FTAA, a medium for
collective negotiation with the corresponding advantage of strength in numbers
and greater critical mass. The Community arrangement enables individual
countries such as St. Lucia and Jamaica to overcome some of the challenges of
small size by pooling resources and coordinating positions.
Those of us who have pledged to get the CSME off the ground by the end of this
year remain committed to this time-table, indicative of the importance we attach
to the speedy implementation of our single regional economic space.
An important arm of the CSME is the provision for the establishment of a
Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). I must here pay tribute to St. Lucia for being
one of the first Member States to pass the enabling legislation. After a series
of unsuccessful legal challenges, we in Jamaica will begin debate on the CCJ
Bill in our Senate later today.
Prime Minister Anthony, in keeping with his responsibility for justice and
governance within the quasi-cabinet of CARICOM Heads, has repeatedly referred to
the importance of the Court as an “affirmation of our independence and
sovereignty”. I reassert my own conviction that our self-respect demands we
cannot continue to rely on others to determine how we interpret our own Laws and
Constitutions. If we cannot dispense justice ourselves, we are unworthy of the
intellectual and spiritual heritage of our progenitors who fought for our
freedom and eventually won our Independence.
I stand resolute in my belief that there is no viable alternative to the CSME
and the CCJ. If we fail to take this route, CARICOM will be left behind, as the
wheels of global change turn rapidly around us. It is with eager anticipation,
therefore, and indeed a sense of pride, that we look forward to the inauguration
of the CCJ later this year and to the full implementation of the CSME by 2005.
In a few days, Prime Minister Anthony and I will join other colleague Heads in
Grenada to further our discussions on these and other important issues on the
CARICOM agenda, including the Region’s future relations with Haiti. I must once
again reiterate my deep satisfaction at the solidarity of the leadership of
CARICOM in our principled position during the Haitian crisis, and the unanimous
condemnation of the serious threat to democracy which it represented. Despite
the circumstances, and in keeping with the Region’s commitment to the people of
Haiti, we continue to be engaged in the affairs of our member country and will
review the operations of the CARICOM Task Force responsible for the coordination
of assistance to the people of that nation.
We will also continue our consideration of the various options for governance in
CARICOM, including the restructuring of the Secretariat, to increase its
efficiency in the delivery of services to Member States.
Regional Security
Mr. Speaker,
The CARICOM States have become increasingly concerned about the new forms of
crime and violence that threaten the stability and social and economic
well-being of the Region. While the structure of the crime problem varies from
country to country, we have recognised the need for collaborative approaches to
deal with the inter-related problems of crime, illicit drugs, as well as
terrorism.
By virtue of our geographical location, we find ourselves in the position of
being the main route traveled by drug dealers from the producing countries to
their markets in North America and Europe.
Accordingly, the Regional Task Force on Crime and Security has provided the
Community with policy directives and recommendations for dealing with the range
of complex security concerns. These include the need for a developmental and
multi-sectoral approach for the execution of crime prevention initiatives over a
long term, in recognition of the fact that security threats, concerns and
challenges are multidimensional. Furthermore, it has been correctly pointed out
that some of the causes of crime revolve around poverty, inequality and social
marginalisation, and are fueled by illegal firearms and ammunition, deportees,
drug trafficking and corruption.
The regional plan for a coordinated response incorporates ongoing work on the
causes of crime, illicit drugs and their links to crime, the impact of deportees
on the escalating rate of crime, trafficking in illicit arms, and the
formulation of a policy for getting guns off the streets.
The threats posed by the illegal trafficking in drugs present serious challenges
and risks, particularly for small states which are confronted with overwhelming
pressures on limited national resources. Efforts to combat the drug trade have
proven to be an expensive exercise, diverting substantial resources from
investment in areas such as education and health.
None of our countries in the Caribbean manufactures arms and weapons; yet we are
to varying degrees affected by this problem. We are deeply convinced that
countries which are the primary manufacturers must accept the responsibility to
play their part in curbing the flow of these weapons.
The Ministers of Security of the entire Region continue the closest
collaboration, as together we face this serious problem which, if left unchecked
could ruin all our efforts at growth and development.
Our Caribbean Identity
Mr. Speaker,
There is no doubt that the Caribbean Region is well positioned on the World
Map…… having just last week addressed Jamaica’s first Diaspora Conference, I
feel well placed to reiterate the importance of nurturing the sense of
collective identity of our Caribbean peoples.
In today’s liberalized environment, the free flow of human and capital resources
across international borders is increasingly being facilitated by enterprising
governments. The reservoir of experience, knowledge and intellect residing in
the Caribbean Diaspora needs to be harnessed and channeled into our development
machinery, with the establishment of a permanent engagement mechanism through
which this can be facilitated. By extension, Diaspora engagement at the level of
CARICOM must be a catalyst for the development of partnerships to build a true
“community of nations” in every corner of the globe. Our efforts at the national
level must naturally merge into the regional process as we consider innovative
ways to strengthen connection with the Diaspora.
Conclusion
Mr. Speaker,
Few countries in the world have enjoyed the distinction of producing two Nobel
Laureates. No country of comparable size to St. Lucia has provided the world
with two Laureates in two separate disciplines. This proves without doubt that
there exists among our people the requisite scholarship and excellence that must
underpin our progress.
Your Foreign Minister, Julian Hunte presided over the 58th Session of the U.N.
General Assembly with the true acumen of a Caribbean Statesman, as he
successfully guided the deliberations of the General Assembly during a period of
unprecedented international tension.
We, in the Caribbean, are a people of immense potential which belies our small
size. Our achievements at the level of Member States and as a Region make this
assertion incontrovertible.
I wish to use this opportunity to congratulate the Government and people of St.
Lucia for their resilience and fortitude in these challenging times. We are
indeed proud of your achievements as a nation – being “small” but “mighty” in
action as you take your place in the annals of history.
It was your own Sir Arthur Lewis who reminded his regional compatriots that:
“Music, literature and art are as important a part of the heritage of mankind as
are science and morals. They differ from science that they do not represent what
is, but are products of the creative imagination. They have therefore, infinite
scope for variation.
And yet, they tend to be distinctively national in character…
This is the essential and most valuable sense in which the West Indians must be
different to other people.”
As we continue on our epic journey from Chaguaramas, the first symbolic turning
point in West Indian integration, I urge you to remain unswerving in your
commitment to the integration process as together we seek to achieve economic
sustainability and a higher quality of life for all our people.
I thank you.
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