opinion

CARICOM and the stormy waters of economics and crime
by Clarence E. Pilgrim

The heads of government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meeting in Georgetown, Guyana held on Friday, 7th December 2007, had as its main driving force the urgent desire to find solutions, at both the national and regional levels, to the critical issues of poverty and the rising cost of living, and also to decide on a number of measures within the reach of the Community or national Governments which could be taken without doing injury to CARICOM economies. 

Two such measures includes a major consumer education campaign to be undertaken in order to remind CARICOM's population to "shop smart, buy regional, eat healthy, conserve energy and save" and in addition that the work being undertaken in the area of renewable energy should be intensified. Other measures identified included the examination of the Common External Tariff as well as the intensification of social interventions targeting the most vulnerable groups, such as children, as a short-term measure to lessen the sever conditions being imposed by high food prices.

This proactive approach to the "food on the plate issues," by the Caribbean leadership collective is an important and definitive moment in the economic landscape of a regional response to the needs of most of the member nations.

But whatever initiative is being planned or undertaken, it has to factor into the overall development equation the ever-present safety and security threat. Blatant and invasive criminal activity has spread across the Caribbean lands like a volcanic cloud of malignant dust particles.

It is with the utmost of sadness and concern --- and some believe a pointed "sign of the times" --- that such a positive CARICOM meeting as held in December was done in a country which has experienced horrendous criminal activity resulting in the loss of many lives, as well as the phenomenon of modern day pirates operating along its coasts, robbing fishermen.

Crime has economic costs everywhere. However, throughout this region many initiatives --- and many careers --- within the various territorial police organizations have either correctly or incorrectly come to a crashing and noisy ends. Some are even now in a state of seemingly active non-motion. Many law enforcement agencies appear to be buckling under the sheer magnitude of the problem and the responsibility it has to its citizens to provide solutions.

The demand for action is a very loud voice indeed!

What is clearly evident and cannot be overstated is that there is a need for business not to continue as usual.

CARICOM must stand united in finding the root cause for what appears to be a violent trend rippling through our society. It probably goes deep into the building-blocks of the characters of the potential criminals. The nature and extent of punishment must be carefully evaluated and decided. Whether it's the death penalty or life imprisonment, the fact is that a strong deterrent must be put in place. Criminals who commit violent acts should never go unpunished.

It has been well over a decade since the West Indian commission recommended the creation of a civil society charter for the Caribbean Community. The enlightened articles, which have become standards of reference for signatory states, continue to endure the test of time with each succeeding challenge. They continue to be persuasive in a changing Caribbean, which faces an unpredictable sea of social problems. The letter and spirit of this and similar documents need to be infused into society and disseminated into every sector, group and individual.

The fact is that with the coming of a new dispensation of closer Caribbean linkages, there will always be issues that demand immediate attention. We must develop an understanding of how to manage these issues, particularly as governments.

The collective fight against crime will determine the strength or weakness of the proposed integration drive and its structures. These are the tests which will determine if the rights of every citizen are protected and enjoyed to the fullest or if they go the way of a failed prosecutor's case, thrown out of court because of a lack of preparation. The jury is still out!

Clarence E Pilgrim is an educator and senior civil servant in Antigua & Barbuda