Saturday, February 27, 2010

To OAS or not to OAS: That is the question

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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

CARICOM leaders never cease to amaze. This decision to create a parallel organization to the OAS (that excludes the USA and Canada) reeks of Chavez-ism. Canada was thrown in only to lessen the impression that the move was directed at the US. It is even more mind-boggling that this move is taking place even as CARICOM is negotiating a trade agreement with Canada.

The group's preoccupation with the competing interests of Argentina and Britain over the Falklands is hard to explain not only for the reasons you've mentioned. By failing to mention anything about long-standing territorial conflicts between Guatemala and Belize and between Guyana and Venezuela, the group in general and CARICOM leaders in particular are suggesting they are not unduly concerned about these conflcts. They must tell us if this is really the case.

There is also the matter of the sustained opposition by some Latin American countries to access conditions for ACP bananas exports into the EU market. Ironically, the objection of the two Latin countries has received staunch support from the USA.

It is left to be seen whether CARICOM countries will now reject assistance from the USA in their fight against drugs and terrorism or support for their efforts to diversify their energy mix away from conventional energy sources.

Are the group's members aware that by opposing Insulza's reelection as OAS Secretar-General they are in fact pushing the agenda of Senator Leahy and the Republican Party?

we should remember that Canada and the USA are not members of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS); yet that organization has gone nowhere and has been left to flounder for lack of resources.

I submit that instead of rushing to form new political groupings of doubtless value, CARICOM leaders should focus on strengthening the CARICOM Secretariat and on making their economies less dependent on Petro Caribe. They should encourage their people to become proficient in Spanish. And they should make fuller use of the opportunities for high level dialogue within the OAS by installing Permanent Representatives to OAS and Ambassadors to Washington that are exponents of the art of development diplomacy.

There is absolutely nothing that this new group can do for CARICOM states that cannot be achieved through the OAS or through bilateral relations. The region stands to gain far more from Canada and the USA than from Chavez.

February 27, 2010 at 1:53 PM
Anonymous said...

CARICOM/CARICRAP.

February 27, 2010 at 6:48 PM
Anonymous said...

My loyalty will always remain to the Mother country England. Through personal experiences, I can never fully trust most Latin American people, I'm sorry.

I am a monarchist so Chavez $ Co. can go back to hell.

February 28, 2010 at 10:47 AM
Anonymous said...

caricom leaders?
caricom bleeders or pleaders ...

March 1, 2010 at 7:38 AM

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