Anguilla News covers Anguilla and the wider
Caribbean.
x
The ACS
Continues to be the Largest Space for Integration and
Development in the Greater Caribbean
By: Dr. Rubén Silié Valdez, Secretary General of the
Association of Caribbean States.
February 1, 2008: Historically, the need for
integration in Latin America and the Caribbean was felt very
early in the nineteenth century when the major leaders and
political thinkers understood that the independence of their
countries would be possible only if there was unity. At that
time the most important task falling to our peoples was to
break free of the colonial shackles and pave the way for a
political and social organisation which embraced the
prevailing principles of freedom and social justice.
Advertisement
That idea of unity could not be achieved in its entirety
given the powerful forces of colonialism and the different
approaches taken to that end. Nevertheless, the idea of
unity remains rooted with us as utopia for our populations,
and since then, it has become a widely accepted political
ideal, which, although not achieved at the rate we would
have liked, has continued to gain ground.
The most important outcome of that liberal thinking in the
region has been an ability to overcome the controversial
notion which prevailed and defined the relationships between
neighbouring nations. After more than a century in which
confrontation prevailed, we now understand that this is not
achieving the desired results and that the strength of our
populations lies in unity and good relations.
At present the region’s leaders are vigorously affirming our
common heritage which was bequeathed to us by our great men
and social activists who planted the seed of these ideas in
our nations. The idea of unity does not now face the
challenges of the past; now it is a goal that is
self-determined while being driven by the imperatives of
globalisation.
We recognise that in order to face the problems of our
countries it is necessary to embrace a regional approach,
considering that most of those problems emanate from, or are
intrinsically linked to, the regional reality. Moreover, it
is not only because the problems are similar but that they
are exist in a regional context per se.
It has been a feature of this new century for Heads of State
and Government of this region to repeatedly express,
irrespective of the context in which they find themselves,
the need for unity and peace in the Latin American and
Caribbean region, while reaffirming their commitment to
defend the principles of integration and open dialogue. In
spite of some differences that have emerged, a number of
initiatives stand out which promote the ideal of
integration, thereby providing an unprecedented political
context for forging closer linkages among our peoples.
The starting point for integration has been the creation of
a broad, economic space which strengthens the national
economies by providing a market with greater capacities and
purchasing power; this also facilitates intra-regional
investment which is needed to support the expansion of the
economic infrastructure and provide for the creation of
employment.
The basis of this proposal lies in the promotion of cultural
identity, geographic proximity, the protection of natural
resources, and something as important as an understanding
that the democratic system is critical to improving the
quality of life of our citizens.
But where the need for integration is most evident is in the
sphere of international co-operation, as it is already clear
that issues of development call for that resource and in
order to attain it, international co-operation organisations
must collaborate with bodies which bring together a larger
number of countries. This promotes dialogue with stronger
entities which have a greater capacity to respond to and to
have an impact on the region that is being represented.
The Association of Caribbean States is the instrument par
excellence to drive the ideas of integration, as it brings
together the largest number of countries of any other
associative system. It brings together four blocs of
countries all of which understand the need to join forces in
the name of co-operation and that is what makes it a unique
space with very particular characteristics.
Although it is clear that for these very reasons there is
high level of diversity, we do not believe that this is an
obstacle that should deter us. The linguistic, cultural and
political differences are not comparable with those that
exist in Europe. The same applies to the political
differences which are also not comparable if we remember
that there were two Wold Wars in Europe. This shows us that
the challenge of diversity is not insurmountable. The mere
fact that we have come together in this Association is a
signal that we have begun to overcome the challenge.
