By Nelson A. King
Stating that it is a valid criticism
of the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) countries that
they have more often failed than
succeeded in coordinating their
foreign policy actions, Antigua
and Barbuda’s top diplomat in
Washington, D.C., Sir Ronald
Sanders, says CARICOM is finally
finding its “winning voice.”
“This tendency has been displayed
in the Organization of
American States (OAS) over the
last three years, causing celebration
among those countries
that fear the voting power of the
14 CARICOM states when they
act together,” wrote Sir Ronald,
Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador
to the OAS and the United
States, in his online newsletter.
“The belief that CARICOM
states are divided has become so
entrenched in the minds of other
countries that one of their representatives
maliciously told many
delegations that Jamaica would
sabotage a CARICOM resolution
when it was presented for a vote
at the body’s Permanent Council
on Dec. 18,” he added.
“There was no truth whatsoever
in the claim about Jamaica,”
he added. “The allegation
was made to create doubt in the
solidarity of CARICOM behind its
own resolution. But the entertainment
Caribbean L 16 ife, JANUARY 10-16, 2020
of the rumor by other
countries is evidence of the belief
that CARICOM is not a collective
force.”
Sir Ronald, noted that, on Dec.
18, however, 13 of the 14 CARICOM
countries “spoke with one
voice in presenting a resolution
on the disturbing human rights
situation in Bolivia, particularly
violence against, and disregard
for, the indigenous people following
the installation of a nonelected
government on Nov. 12.”
He said Haiti was absent from
the meeting.
“Significantly, the CARICOM
13 consulted widely with other
OAS member states, seeking
broad consensus and accepting
amendments to its draft from
several countries that proclaim
human rights as a major plank of
their foreign policies,” the Antigua
envoy wrote.
“However, the Brazilian
Ambassador to the OAS, in a
most unfortunate statement
during the Permanent Council
meeting, accused the 13 Caribbean
countries, and the five
nations that supported the resolution,
of not being ‘genuinely
concerned with advancing and
protecting the human rights of
indigenous peoples in Bolivia,’”
he added. “The ambassador went
on to boldly state, with not a
shred of evidence to support his
discourteous remark, that the
Caribbean-proposed resolution
‘will only serve to endorse the
false arguments of certain malicious
Bolivian political actors
that there are racist components
in the process that culminated
in the departure of the previous
government.’”
“What made the ambassador
think that he had the right
to make such an offensive and
false statement is inexplicable,”
Sir Ronald continued. “But it
falls into a pattern of derisory
statements he has made in OAS
Antigua and Barbuda Ambassadaor to US, Sir Ronald Sanders.
Government of Antigua and Barbuda
Permanent Council meetings,
about CARICOM countries, that
harm the positive and constructive
relationship that has always
existed between Brazil and CARICOM
countries.”
He said research would have
shown any who were ignorant of
the facts that CARICOM Heads
of Government have been in the
forefront for reparatory justice
not only for African slavery but
also for genocide of the indigenous
people and the centuries
of discrimination against their
survivors.
“Indeed, it is an article of faith
among CARICOM governments
that all acts of discrimination
and violation of the human rights
of indigenous people, including
violence and arbitrary imprisonment,
must end,” he said.
“That is why, in the wake of
credible reports, including by the
global media, of serious violations
of the human rights of the
indigenous people in Bolivia, following
the forced departure of
President Evo Morales, and the
installation of a new regime, 13
CARICOM countries produced a
resolution for adoption by the
OAS,” Sir Ronald said.
CARICOM finds its winning
voice: Antiguan diplomat
PATIENTS’
CHOICE
RATED & AWARDED BY PATIENTS
SM