Grenada’s Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas, was the featured speaker at a meeting of the Grenada-Guyana Friendship Society, at the Red Cross Building on Lucas Street, on Saturday. The following is the text of that address: ST.GEORGE’S, GRENADA, SATURDAY, AUGUST 22nd, 2009_ Ladies and Gentlemen. I thank you for the opportunity to address you on some of the major issues facing us as a Caribbean people. Additionally, I commend you for hosting this symposium, because I believe as the region’s policy makers, we must be informed by the discussions that take place among those who will be affected by the policies we seek to implement. Today ladies and gentlemen, our region is at a crossroad, this forces us to focus on finding concrete solutions traverse this crossroad by using the collective resources within CARICOM. For many years we have held meetings and discussions on the way forward for our region. Unfortunately, while we have been engaging in these discussions, the world has been changing in very drastic ways. The Europeans understood what was happening and have taken bold steps by maintaining a system of leadership at the country level but putting a mechanism in place to govern critical areas of their economic and foreign policies. We within the Caribbean share a common history as former colonies. However we ha not taken advantage of that history. We need to harness our history to benefit from bilateral relations with the United Kingdom. In effect, ladies and Gentlemen, we have allowed the changes to overtake us. As a region we must position ourselves to take advantage of the changing global environment. Our past leaders, including T.A Marryshow had vision of a single Caribbean identity and began a process of integration. We are all familiar with the history of the West Indian federation. Ladies and Gentlemen, the current world climate demands that we move forward together as a region in order to face the challenges and adapt to the realities of a World Trade Organisation, multi-lateral agencies and global environmental concerns. The global landscape has shifted considerably, making our small open states more vulnerable to the shocks of the external economic environment. Among the new realities facing us as a region are: * The ability of families resident in the developed world to provide support to their home countries has declined considerably. Remittances which once made up a significant portion of our budget and GDP, have shrunk * The economies of the developed countries have declined and are in recession, some claim the worst since the 1920’s and the great depression. These countries are now grappling with high debt, growing unemployment and a reduction in the standard of living. In addition, the pressures on salaries brought about by the increase in the price of food, fuel and increase in layoffs have forced us to look very closely at how we manage our resources to ensure our survival. Ladies and Gentlemen it is against this background that I call for a greater focus on ways of achieving what I regard as a single, cohesive approach to the development of our region. I want to challenge organizations such as yours, to continue striving to bring about that understanding and appreciation of a united Caribbean. The people of this region have the opportunity to influence and drive the integration process forward. I remember well, the call to action when Guyana experienced flooding and the Grenadian community came to their assistance. So too, when Grenada experienced Hurricanes Ivan and Emily, in 2004 and 2005 respectively, the Caribbean family rallied to support us. History has shown that the people of the Caribbean understand the need to come to the aid of each other, especially in a crisis. Ladies and Gentlemen, our attempts to create a Single Market and Economy, both within the OECS and the wider CARICOM grouping have been stuttering at best and stalled at worse. My colleagues within the OECS have been attempting to move the integration process forward as the deadline for an economic and political union draws closer. The form that integration takes and exactly how the process develops continue to be debated and discussed. However many, if not all member states, have shown more than just a commitment to this process which we believe is the only answer to the survival of our small states, especially at this time. At the level of the OECS, I have called for a supra national body to oversee the implementation of the agreements that have already been signed. The framework for such a body is already in place. We have a single court system and currency as well as a central bank. We have joint representation in at least one jurisdiction. What is lacking is the political will to converge our sovereignty. There is, therefore, a base on which we can build and strengthen our relationship. At the CARICOM level however, while we have signed agreements and reviewed treaties, the pace of reform and the progress of the integration process continues to be slow, almost stalled. It is my own view that while we have given verbal assent to this noble ideal, our action, to date has not matched those words. As you would have heard in recent times, several Prime Ministers have expressed that view. Our progress or lack thereof, can be seen in the failure to implement agreements which we have taken collectively. This is also seen in the way we treat nationals from other respective countries in our respective territories. It is seen through the continued hassle in the movement of the factors of production, our people, our capital and our resources. It is still problematic for producers from one CARICOM country to get their products into another despite signed agreements and treaties. We have been unable to develop or effectively manage the transportation that is required achieve a single economic space. Our trade continues to be lopsided. All these issues, ladies and gentlemen, have in my view hampered the effective implementation of the Single Market and Economy, to which we have committed our citizens and our countries. I am also of the view that the successful implementation of the CSME is also hampered by some level of insularity. This view is based on what I regard as a chronic fear that foreigners will take our jobs. Foreigners here mean nationals fro other Caribbean countries. I see this as inconsistent and unfortunate, that while we seek to build a single economic space, we still regard each other as foreigners. It is also my view that we continue to be affected by an inability to trust our own expertise and the very institutions we are working to build. Our approach to the establishment of a Caribbean Court of Appeal is an indictment of ourselves as leaders, as it is a question of our maturity as a people. There is an urgent need, as so aptly put by the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Sir Dwight Venner, that we find concrete strategies to respond to the threats to our survival. In this crucial era of globalization and change, we need a deeper and fuller appreciation of the need to work together, in harmony to cut wastage and to strengthen our resolve to collectively address our synergies as a Caribbean People. We should not wait to be influenced by global developments to deepen the integration movement in the region. Our history, culture, geography and economic survival warrant the meaningful integration of our region. Ladies and Gentlemen the governments of the region must step up the support of our private sectors in their bid to utilize the resources of the region. Our young professionals, who have graduated from the University of the West Indies, the University of Trinidad and Tobago or the University of Guyana, and St. George’s University, must find a place to make a contribution to the building of a Caribbean identity. Consider for one moment, if you will, the efforts of our earlier generations who left their shores to find work in other territories, while at the same time developing the economies of the larger countries among us. A cursory examination will immediately reveal the contribution of Grenadians to the development of Trinidad and Tobago as one example. That exchange has led to a blend that cannot be separated. This is one of the factors that underpin my resolve that Trinidad and Tobago be welcomed into the family of the OECS. Political integration of states within CARICOM would be more beneficial to the people than the present arrangement. There are nationals of various countries in Grenada who blend so well into the culture, that if you did not ask, you would not know that they are non nationals. I reflect on the number of Grenadians, Barbadians and other Caribbean nationals, who became a part of the Cuban experience by virtue of working in that country’s agricultural sector in the period of King sugar. We, Caribbean nationals, have contributed to aspects of life in each others territories. For example in hospitality, engineering, agriculture and the legal profession. Therefore the time has come for a Caribbean identity. This is premised on our similarities, while acknowledging that there are differences among us. Its time we acknowledge that we float together or sink apart. We have received considerable help in building systems to manage the movement of people. World Cup 2007 is a fitting example. We can utilize those systems to the fullest to inform our united movement. Ladies and Gentlemen, we can no longer depend on narrow national interests. We must integrate to face and overcome the challenges of this global environment. The Grenada government alone spends millions of dollars every year in maintaining embassies and ambassadors in several major cities around the world. This is also true of each OECS country and our CARICOM partners as well. Generally as a region we take the same position on international issues. Why then do we need 12 persons to say what one person can say? I therefore submit that much the resources that are expended in overseas representation can be immediately reduced if we were to act as one community. It is ironic that the world continues to send us this message. Our traditional friends and international organizations, with which we interact with, all refer to and treat us as one region; however we are yet to fully grasp that message. If we were to integrate in this one area of representation, the savings realized and message sent to the world that we are serious about our integration will be tremendous. We, therefore, need to work out the mechanisms that would facilitate the free movement of capital and people. We need to create avenues for open and free trade across our borders. This will strengthen our manufacturing sector and provide us with the opportunity to rationalize our productive capacity. It is my considered view that the longer we wait, the more difficult it will be to achieve integration. The more we put off taking the important decisions to integrate the longer it will take us to realize our true potential. Ladies and Gentlemen there is an urgent need to deepen our political, social, economic and cultural ties for the benefit of our people. The single most important cultural festival in our region is CARIFESTA. We have adopted a stop and start approach to this most important outlet for the creativity and talent of our people. Our artistes should be able to showcase their talent as member of the Caribbean family. I want to be clear on this. We must exercise care in what is allowed into our societies. What this means is that we must establish standards to which we must adhere. We must use all available channels to help our people understand the underlying realities of our current existence. There is too much at stake for us to continue this slow pace of integration. Ladies and Gentlemen, the OECS countries are way ahead of CARICOM in the integration process. It is my hope that as we work towards a single market and economy, that the people of this region will understand and accept the process. We must integrate to safeguard the welfare of our children and grand children. CSME must work to the benefit of all Caribbean people. I thank you