T&T should be applauding Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the lead Head of the Caricom Quasi Cabinet responsible for crime and security matters at the 24th Inter-Sessional Meeting of Caricom Heads in Haiti. Given our ongoing national security crises, however, the country and the region should instead fear for the worst.The PM heads an administration which, three years into its tenure, has yet to present a plan to address the country's national security issues even as it moved to quickly unravel the plan it met in midstream without having an alternative. This current crime wave is a direct consequence of that, and T&T is likely to be much worse if the PM is to adopt a similar vaille qui vaille approach to the equally challenging regional security issues. The lack of a crime plan is, however, not her only failure.
The Government has not published any change in policy on regional integration or on our relationship with Caricom neighbours who are critical to our economic and border security. We cannot, however, assume that the long-standing policy articulated by the previous PNM administration of leadership in the Caribbean and support for critical regional initiatives still stands, based on the Government's only enunciated position on Caricom matters, articulated by the PM herself, that T&T will no longer be the region's ATM card.T&T accounts for approximately 70 per cent of total export sales to the Caricom market and the PM's ATM statement was clearly ignorant of the significant contribution the Caricom region makes to our economy. The policy, still not repudiated, was widely seen as condescending to our regional partners who have always supported T&T initiatives at the UN and other international fora in good faith. In keeping with their policy, T&T under the leadership of the PM, has already cancelled the maritime security initiative, endorsed by Caricom, which was to see the purchase of offshore patrol vessels and attack helicopters being used to ensure the country's border security, while working with our regional partners to stem the flow of guns and drugs.
Having been a member of the UNC administration which campaigned for the siting of the Caribbean Court of Justice in T&T, the PM now heads an administration, leading members who have questioned its cost, as well as the PM herself who, as Opposition Leader, questioned the ethnic balance of its judges. Given the importance of the CCJ, especially its appellate jurisdiction for the delivery of justice regionally, this administration's continued refusal to accept our CCJ obligations is inconsistent with her commitment to lead crime and security initiatives in the region.This penny-wise-and-pound-foolish approach to our regional policy ignores the critical role which T&T must play if Caricom is to realise the goals articulated on the signing of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to create the single market and economy. T&T must remain concerned by the growing weakness of Caricom, as the regional organisation has failed to rise to the global challenges affecting all states, more so small island nations of the Caribbean. Caricom recognises the need for change and has always depended on the leadership of countries like T&T, which was the site of the original Treaty of Chaguaramas and which played a leading role in the formulation of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
In recognition of the critical need for change, regional heads identified leadership as a key factor and in their communique, released at the end of the Haiti meeting, called for "change drivers" to be appointed in each territory to facilitate the change process at the national level and to assist in the adoption of Caricom's strategic plan when it is finally adopted. The meeting called for the appointment of "a senior official" to perform this role. This administration, especially in the foreign policy arena, has already gained a reputation for "ethnic stocking" without regard to qualifications and experience. It is anyone's guess who will be the latest beneficiary of the jobs-for-the-boys-and-girls syndrome. Hopefully, at least their qualifications would come up to scratch in this instance since we can no longer afford any further embarrassment over appointments.As head of the National Security Council, the PM has provided poor leadership and is now having to deal with an illegal police squad ostensibly using national security resources without her knowledge. It is not a track record that can inspire confidence at home, regionally or internationally.
Paula Gopee-Scoon
Point Fortin MP