Darby Etienne MA Diplomacy
Terrorism, Security, Economy and Climate Change – Are Caribbean Diplomats allowed to play?
‘Watch pot, never boil!’ I am yet to come across a job description for a diplomat.
Terrorism, Security, Economy and Climate Change are four items bubbling merrily in the cauldron of the Caribbean diplomacy pot, while life in the Caribbean continues in the relaxed and friendly peace in the knowledge that the seasoning is more or less left to the UK on one hand, with warships patrolling the Caribbean seas.
The Americans on the other hand have probably taken a controlling interest in the issuing of all Caribbean national passports and English visa processing. This has been accepted by our leaders as the US method of maintaining tighter control over the movement of potential terrorist operatives who may try to use the Caribbean as a gateway for attacks on the US, a reincarnation of the reminiscence of the triangular slave trade and colonialism.
When Caribbean nations agreed independence from Great Britain, the British
HMS Ark Royal. Photo courtesy dailymail.co.uk
agreed that they would protect the islands via the sea and air. Since the year 2000 there has been some significant changes regarding global diplomacy pertaining to priority of alignment; Terrorism and Security became the number one issue that diplomats have to deal with around the world, however, the job of Caribbean Diplomats appears to be “uniquely special”.
As the UN mandate dictates there should be capacity building in these relationships as it involves Transnational Corporations. The question is, ‘Where is the involvement of our Caribbean diplomats?
Economy is another major issue on the clipboard of diplomats especially in the new millennium. The cliché ‘if England or American sneezes the Caribbean catches a cold’ appears to hold water for the cauldron. The stem from the pot carries the fragrance away from our noses. However, the advent of the new Economic Partnership Agreement provides the Caribbean with an opening to explore ways that the region can improve relations with Europe – better dialogue between civil societies in Europe and the Caribbean. Are we still in the kitchen or at the dinner table?
Photo courtesy parttimepoker.com
To RSVP for dinner these avenues are; increasing the number of NGOs thereby enhancing functionalities of civil societies in the Caribbean, the Diaspora building links encouraging trade and investment amongst African, Caribbean and Pacific Member States.
Climate – the Caribbean conjures up certain images. Currently climate change, two words which have become the most nervously spoken words in the world. From my view the job description of a diplomat is to engage with scientists and the politicians. The islands are extremely vulnerable and we must seek to protect the impact both physically and economically. Therefore to emphasize the issue, ‘Are we allowed to play or are our leaders aware that we are being played?’
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