June 2015


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We need to accelerate convergence

By Professor Clement Sankat

This evening, we draw the curtains down on a Forum that I can only describe as special and differentiated. This Forum, though it took many of us out of our comfort zones, was a very important event for the countries of the wider Caribbean region and by extension the people of the Western hemisphere and the global South. The beauty of this Forum has been that all of us have come to this conference, in a way, as students. We have come with the belief that we all have something to learn from each other, and that we all have something to contribute to the future of our region.

I was truly pleased to see that at St. Augustine many young people presented and contributed to the discussions. It was a Forum that had a large number of students who were prepared to raise their voices. I was also pleased with the diversity of presenters. We had persons not only from across the English-speaking Caribbean, but from the French and Spanish-speaking Caribbean. We also had persons from places like Argentina, Paris, Malta, and Canada, among many other places. The questions and comments from the floor and from the audience were always very thought-provoking, sometimes even unsettling; but this is the type of discussion and discourse we need at this juncture in our history as we try to move our region forward. It was Dr. Antonio Prado who said on the first day that, “we need disruptive thinking for a disruptive age.”

This Forum has made it clear that we need to find a way to accelerate Caribbean convergence. We have heard from you that as individual countries we are too small to succeed in today’s world. What we heard was based on several technical assessments that noted that our private and public sectors would be more efficient if we consider them unified. We have also heard that institutional redundancies have become characteristic of our region when considered as a whole. Many of these can be rationalised if we are capable of finding a path that accelerates Caribbean convergence. Moreover, when we add to these facts an analysis of our “Caribbeanness,” we see the unanimous clamour for faster integration. Yet the actions that we need to execute to accelerate this process just take too long, or are sometimes never implemented. I hear you clearly expressing your frustration for lack of action at the national and regional levels. In fact, over these past three days, we have been reminded that we appear to be comfortable with “business as usual,” and that our institutions are stuck. You clearly told us that you wanted action, and you wanted such action now. I share your frustration.

In the Forum you made multiple proposals on many important issues. These proposals were good because they showed the enormous task ahead. Moreover, during the Forum it was clear that you were willing to engage and participate in finding answers to our challenges. You were trying to be the solution to our problems. But I confess, that a brief analysis of these proposals shows the enormous challenges that we as a region must address together. We (and I mean, me, you and all the partners involved) need time to digest and think about everything that was said in the last three days so we can agree on the most practical ways to move action.

I am of the belief that we cannot, and probably should not try to summarize at this moment everything that was said at this Forum. We did, however, identify five broad themes that have been repeated throughout. These themes resonated strongly, and I wish to present them to you.

1. Firstly, we need a clearer long-term vision of where we are going as a region. This will shape the intermediary milestones that we need in order to meet the expectations of Caribbean people, our people, all of us.
2. Secondly, we realize that we are already part of a process in motion, a multiplex world that requires coordinated responses within a broadened Caribbean space.
3. Thirdly, the necessity as we plan for the future, to focus on our youth. This requires a regional multifaceted approach that includes a focus on education, talent development, Youth unemployment, poverty reduction and wealth creation with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship.
4. Fourthly, we need a regional disaster prevention, emergency support and reconstruction facility. As we learned in this Forum, we are exposed to natural disasters but we are not properly prepared to deal with them. Moreover, we also learned from Minister (Winston) Dookeran that these natural disasters are not the exception but the norm for our region when considered as one.
5. And finally, we have heard that Policy has to be driven by knowledge, data generation and research.

These broad themes summarise what was presented. But you and I need more than this. As I confessed to you before, we need time to digest and understand the implications of concrete proposals that should come out of our disruptive thinking sessions. The steering committee behind this forum will meet in two weeks to define a work programme. The work programme will include concrete actions. We will also identify who will take the lead on these actions and establish timelines for implementation.

I should also mention that we welcome suggestions and recommendations before we meet, so that we may consider them for inclusion in the work programme. We will keep the communications open to you; please use our website for submitting your inputs. When we have prepared the programme, we will announce it and make it public for your additional comments and suggestions.

Ladies and gentlemen, the regional University of the West Indies, a unique university which is supported by the governments of 16 states of the Caribbean and stands tall as a model for collective action and Caribbean regionalism is poised and ready to do our part. Let us remember that in today’s global environment, this call for solidarity and collective regional action is fundamental for the prosperity and survival of our countries and small island developing states.

With that said ladies and gentlemen, I extend heartfelt thanks to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to the success of this Forum. I extend heartfelt thanks to the:

• Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Winston Dookeran, and his team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
• United Nations Resident Coordinator in Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Richard Blewitt and his team from the entire United Nations System in Trinidad and Tobago; the CARICOM Secretary-General, His Excellency Irwin LaRocque; the Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Mr. Deodat Maharaj and his staff; the Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), His Excellency Alfonso Munera Cavadia; the Representative of CAF in Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Iwan Sewberath, OAS Representative, Mr. Riyad Insanally and all our other international partners.
• The Ambassador of Mexico and the Mexican Government.
• I also express thanks to Professor Patrick Watson and his team from SALISES; Professor Andy Knight of IIR and Prof Miguel Carillo of the UWI ALJGBS and my own colleagues from the Principal’s Office – Debra Coryat-Patton, Mrs. Betty McComie, Shelly-Ann Patrick Harper and Tessa Horne; and our team from Marketing and Communications led by Dr. Dawn-Marie DeFour-Gill;
• Thanks to Josanne Leonard for managing the process of our deliberation, keeping us focused and strenuously on time.
• I also express thanks to Russell George of Hyatt Regency and his team for their warm service.
• And finally and most importantly I thank all our presenters including our Vice-Chancellor, Sir Hilary Beckles and all participants for contributing fresh radical ideas to drive our Region forward – you have all made this occasion historic and memorable! You have stayed the course!

Remember, it is imperative that we focus our attention on mechanisms and modalities for translating concepts into ACTION. Failure is not an option.

These are the closing remarks delivered by Pro Vice-Chancellor and St. Augustine Campus Principal, Professor Clement Sankat at the Forum on the Future of the Caribbean, May 5-7, 2015.