THE EDITOR, Sir:
YOUR EDITORIAL today (Wednesday) stated: "The worst fears of Jamaican cane farmers and others in the sugar industry, along with those of their African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) colleagues, were realised yesterday with the European Commission's proposal to slash raw sugar prices by between 39 and 42 per cent over a three-year period."
This issue has made me furious. My anger is not directed at the Europeans but at my own people.
I am not an expert on the sugar industry, but I have seen this coming for a long time. The cut in our access to the EU banana market is also something I have seen for a long time. Yet, I am no genius.
We in Jamaica, the West Indies and the rest of the ACP countries must surely see that the EU has been slowly abandoning their previous status of colonial powers with responsibility for their colonial 'children'. They are now moving together to protect and enhance their interests in an increasingly competitive world. I don't blame them for this - I admire them.
We have been 'independent' for 43 years but have continued to behave as if we will always have access to the EU markets on preferential terms. For our sugar and bananas, we expect to be paid prices that are higher than world market prices. Why should the Europeans continue to subsidise us?
We refuse to embrace our independence and continue to depend on the former colonial masters until we are literally thrown out of the house.
The next house we will be thrown out of is the Privy Council. While we bicker and fight, unable to set up our own court, Britain already has announced plans to establish its own Supreme Court - undoubtedly the first step in the abolition of the Privy Council.
I predict that one day a few years from now, your editorial will read:
"The worst fears of the Jamaican legal fraternity and others in the country, along with those of their Caribbean colleagues, were realised yesterday with the British decision to abolish the Privy Council and align their judicial system more closely with that of their European Commission partners."
Will we ever learn?
I am, etc.,
HUGH P SMYTHE
hpsmythe@cwjamaica.com
53 Park St.
Port of Spain, Trinidad
