Monday March 13, 2006 - Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, N.A.
Caribbean integration still is considered a challenge ~ Says senior political science lecturer Hans Breeveld ~
PHILIPSBURG--“Integration must be realised by being proactive, having a win-win attitude and better communication via a bottom-up approach. It’s our obligation to see what our own role is that we have to play in strengthening the Caribbean Community.”
Those were the recommendation Hans Breeveld, a senior lecturer in political science at University of Suriname, gave at the end of his lecture “Caribbean integration: A challenge for all Caribbean people” at Divi Little Bay Resort yesterday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Foundation Friendship Suriname St. Maarten.
About 100 fellow Surinamers were present yesterday to hear Breeveld’s speech. He outlined the history of the Caribbean and gave recommendations on how to strengthen the Caribbean Community, of which Suriname has been part since 1995.
He said the integration of the Caribbean dated from decades ago. Directly after World War II an attempt was made to form a Federation of the West Indies, consisting of all the colonies of England.
Breeveld’s opinion is that the main cause of the failure of the integration was that the process started with political integration instead economic integration. But with the failure of the federation, the economic integration of the Caribbean started.
Breeveld: “The federation was launched in 1952, but died a premature death in 1962. In that same year Jamaica and Trinidad became independent. Guyana and Barbados followed in 1966. But in the meantime, the economic integration of the Caribbean started. In December of 1965 the first Caribbean Trade Association Carifta agreement was signed. In 1968 all English speaking Caribbean countries, with the exception of the Bahamas and Belize, became members.”
Breeveld believes the important role of Carifta was that it provided for the continuation of the meetings of heads of states. “So in October 1972, during the seventh Heads of Government Conference in Trinidad, the decision was taken for the foundation of a Caribbean Community and in 1974 the Caribbean Community Caricom became a fact.”
However, the integration of the Caribbean can still be considered a challenge, Breeveld said. “Due to the impact of colonialism, too many of our people are not yet convinced about the truth of the saying ‘United we stand divided we fall.’”
He said that when talking about colonialism, too often the economic side was emphasised. “How easily we overlook the cultural and psychological damage that colonialism has caused by cultural domination.”
Breeveld believes that due to colonialism we are more often against each other than with each other. ‘Instead of thinking we can allow ourselves everlasting quarrels, we had better take a good look at what’s happening in the world.”
He firmly believes that due to the course of history it is not an easy task to reach sustainable development in all parts of the world. “So, in our aim to develop our countries we cannot imitate Europe, because we simply cannot make colonies in our days.”
Breeveld suggests that we should renew our way of thinking and introduce a new paradigm. “This means we have to develop a new way of looking at ourselves, our fellow countrymen, our country and towards the rest of the world. Countrymen in this sense are not only men born in your country, but men belonging to your region, because more and more national sovereignty is replaced by regional sovereignty.”
Breeveld also wants to see more celebration of Caribbean greatness. “I have discovered that people from the Caribbean in general talk too modestly about themselves. With their songs Bob Marley and the Mighty Sparrow put the Caribbean on the international map and so they induced a pride in the Caribbean people which leads to self esteem.”
Breeveld pointed out that besides the external dimension there was also an internal dimension. “We don’t give enough credit to people of our societies who have achieved something excellent. We don’t compliment or give enough regard to our children at home or in schools when they give an excellent performance. For our children to become successful we have to make them familiar with role models that are or have been in our societies.”
At the end of his speech Breeveld recommended how best to achieve the goal of a better integrated Caribbean. “Proactive behaviour is an essential condition to become prosperous. It’s also important to have a futuristic view. Where would we like to be in the year 2020 or 2030?”
A win-win approach stimulates development, he emphasised, saying, “We have to work together, knowing that an advantage for you can also generate advantage for another. Improved communication with a bottom-up approach where the common Caribbean people interact with each other about integration should help strengthen Caricom.”
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