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Official backs proposed political union |
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Sunday, 07 September 2008 |
PORT OF SPAIN - A leading public official here has thrown his support behind the initiative for an economic and political union between Eastern Caribbean states and Trinidad and Tobago.
Chairman of the Equal Opportunity Commission, Prof. John La Guerre said the move which is being pushed by Prime Minister Patrick Manning would enhance regional cooperation.
"It's an initiative that should be explored, pursued, studied and advertised so that people can be educated on the benefits of greater association," he said.
Manning, along with Grenadian prime minister, Tillman Thomas; prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves; and St Lucian prime minister, Stephenson King signed a Memorandum of Understanding recently committing their countries to economic and political union by 2011 and 2013 respectively.
The four leaders are to ratify the MOU in December but concerns have already been raised by some, including Jamaica’s prime minister, Bruce Golding, that the initiative could undermine the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
La Guerre said this latest attempt at political union "represents another installment in the search of greater unity on the part of the Caribbean territories."
He said despite the collapse of the West Indian Federation 50 years ago "the dream of a united Caribbean remains very much alive."
The former University of the West Indies lecturer said there was a greater realization in the Caribbean today that "political and economic necessities must bring us together."
He said the initiative could begin "with limited numbers (and) once the benefits of that kind of association can be demonstrated others will follow suit, as happened in the case of the European Union (EU)."
He said another major benefit from the move to unite economically and politically is the political leverage that comes from greater strength.
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