Dear Sir
A Commonwealth is defined as a nation, state and or other political units, founded on law and united by compact or tacit agreement of the people for the common good.
Thus, the creation of an all-encompassing Commonwealth of Caribbean Nations based upon their regional and island culture, as a cornerstone to complete Caribbean unity, is viable.
The assertion is; as long as individual Caribbean island nations compete against each other, and with much larger and more powerful international competing nations, the islands of the Caribbean will not reach their full political/economic potential. It is only by uniting the Caribbean into one socio-politically/economic powerhouse will this Commonwealth and its member nations achieve the respect and competitive fear of their opponents within international markets.
The assertion is such that, a fully united Caribbean can and will fulfil the aspirations and needs of each of its member states while assuring a unifying might with political/economic leverage.
A United Caribbean will be stronger in many ways:
- Greater purchasing power as a group, with a larger united population;
- Political power and influence (friends and competitors);
- Influence on the international stage;
- Unity of purpose, national outlook and aspirations;
- Unified financial clout; thus pooling a collective financial position:
- Unifying member-states ambassadorial, consulates and foreign affairs ministries;
- A united commonwealth will assure the ability to quickly and profoundly respond to Climate Change, through the establishment of an internal emergency ministry;
- Each member must work towards a democratic outlook and the practice of democracy;
- The wealth of each member nation is considered part of the greater entity. (The petroleum, mining and natural resources sector would be used to the benefit of all member states, much like health care, insurance, and travel agreements.)
Now, notable, some islands will need more care and investment than others, but these investments can create the greater good for all. International banking and foreign concerns prefer to do business with a united conglomerate, a Commonwealth of Island Nations than separate islands with a sparse population and limited ability to transact internationally.
Imagine a grouping of island nations within a greater Commonwealth. A government with a president for example St Vincent and the Grenadines, a deputy prime minister from Barbados and ministers from islands as diverse from Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique, Saint Lucia, and Bermuda.
This Commonwealth would move towards gaining new members from other island nations controlled by former colonial powers, extending independence to Martinique, Guadeloupe, the US and the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and even St Pierre and Miquelon (beside Newfoundland).
The Caribbean must be courageously ambitious. The Caribbean must be creatively aspiring to what is truly within its grasp. The Caribbean, with their island lifestyle/culture, must demand better for their people.
Again, it is only through unity can the Caribbean become, otherwise, it will remain as it has been, a political and economic possession or external powers.
Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario
