Anthony - file CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):
Former St Lucia Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony believes there is a crisis of confidence in the leadership of the Caribbean and has warned of serious consequences for the region, arising out of last weeks signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe.
Thirteen Caribbean states including St. Lucia, but excluding Haiti and Guyana signed the controversial trade pact in Barbados Wednesday, but Dr Anthony believes the region erred in sealing the accord at this time.
He noted that several respectable voices in the region had warned against signing the EPA agreement, adding that the Caribbean made a huge diplomatic error in going its own way with Europe and breaking away from its African and Pacific partners who have also expressed reservations about the accord.
As far as the former St Lucia leader is concerned, the historical solidarity of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group has been irreparably damaged.
worried
He is also worried about the EPAs impact on efforts to conclude the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
The fear that eventually the utilisation or reward of duties for European goods in the region will allow the Europeans a critical space in our economy and thereby compete with our very own products within the region, this is a well- founded fear, a very real one, he said.
A recent attack by Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding on other Caribbean leaders, whom he accuses of going from capital to capital around the world like panhandlers begging for assistance, has also raised a red flag for Anthony, who says he is now forced to conclude that the Caribbean is in a bind.
We have not harnessed our diplomacy, he said.
He also highlighted the recently announced unity initiative between Trinidad and Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean.
It is undoubtedly the case that a lot of countries in the Eastern Caribbean believe that there is no future in the single market economy and have begun to look for alternatives in international arrangements, he said.
brazilian influence
The leader of the St Lucia Labour Party also pointed to disarray with respect to foreign policy matters, calling on governments to consider not only the situation regarding Venezuela, but the increasing influence of Brazil and the regions entire relationship with Latin America.
We need to also consider our relationship with Europe, Anthony said.
He asked: Are we going to continue to maintain ties with Europe as a bloc because of the EPA, or are we going to carve out special relationships with countries within Europe?
The situation is critical and all of this is happening in an exceedingly hostile economic environment, he added.
Anthony, who, in his former role as prime minister had proposed that a special CARICOM Summit be convened to discuss foreign-policy matters, now says Caribbean leaders need to step back and look at the situation realistically so that they can carve out a new approach to the politics of the region and its correlation with the rest of the world.
