[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 21, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1300-E1301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  AN AFRO-CARIBBEAN VIEW OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FROM THE JAMAICAN 
                             PRIME MINISTER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 21, 2005

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my 
colleagues the advice of a wise individual in international relations 
and a champion of the issues of Afro-descendant groups across the 
world--the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Mr. P.J. Patterson. He is the 
leader of the Jamaican People's National Party and the longest-serving 
Prime Minister in Jamaican history.
  Prime Minister Patterson is an individual with a unique history that 
speaks directly to many of the problems of the developed and developing 
worlds. As a proud Jamaican, he knows the struggles of individuals of 
African descent and is pioneering ways of overcoming those challenges. 
Campaigning on a platform that stressed recognition of minority rights 
and government responsibility, Prime Minister Patterson has built a 
coalition of national support that has popular appeal and speaks to the 
hearts and minds of the Jamaican people.
  Throughout his life, he has seen the challenges of poor families and 
individuals in rising above their economic position and achieving 
prosperity. He thus has used his positions in government to champion 
actions to the benefit of the poor. Jamaica, like much of the Caribbean 
and Latin America, has struggled to overcome the effects of a global 
hegemony and the scourge of slavery on its people. It has seen the 
fights of the poor, the uneducated, and the disenfranchised for an 
equal chance in society. Prime Minister Patterson has worked to address 
the harmful and devastating effects of poverty, HIV/AIDS, and 
globalization on the tiny, but proud, island-nation of Jamaica.
  Under the leadership of people like Prime Minister Patterson, Jamaica 
has stood as a principled defender of justice and equality for all 
individuals. He is currently the chair of Group of 77 and leads its 
efforts to expand debt relief for poor nations. He is profoundly 
concerned with creating a fair system of international governance for 
all countries. His actions in government and behavior in life 
demonstrate this commitment and concern.
  Mr. Patterson is an important voice on global affairs and the 
importance of a global commitment to justice. His advice is often wise 
and insightful and it is important that this Congress hear the advice 
of this noble gentleman on the challenges of Afro-descendant 
populations in the Caribbean.
  I therefore submit for the Record a Carib News op-ed written by the 
Prime Minister of Jamaica, P.J. Patterson on his views of the 
connection between slavery and globalization and the exploitation of 
the Afro-descendant populations.

  From the Fight Against Slavery, Racism and Colonialism to HIV/AIDS 
              Scourge and Adverse Effects of Globalization

       June 21, 2005.--For almost 500 years, the Atlantic slave 
     trade forcibly removed over 100 million Africans to 
     destinations in the Americas.
       This mass relocation has wreaked permanent and enormous 
     damage to our ancestors and their descendants on every 
     continent bordering the Atlantic. It led to the depopulation 
     and stifling of African creativity and production, and was 
     the genesis of a dependency relationship with Europe.
       The resulting negative perception of persons of African 
     ancestry is one we are still struggling to overcome. 
     Undeniably, the slave trade was the first step toward modern 
     Africa's current status as a region where development has 
     lagged far behind that of the more industrialized nations. We 
     in the Caribbean also suffer from this legacy.
       When slavery was eventually abolished, authoritarian 
     regimes were structured to keep us still in bondage so as to 
     maintain and increase wealth for the colonial and imperial 
     masters. The shift in Europe toward industry during the late 
     18th century heralded new and increasing challenges for 
     continent and Diaspora alike.
       Movements such as Pan Africanism grew out of our need to 
     overcome these obstacles.
       We cannot overlook the seminal contributions of Marcus 
     Garvey whose concern for the problems of Blacks led him to 
     found the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 
     1914. Its main objectives were to promote the spirit of 
     racial pride, to foster worldwide unity among people of 
     African descent and to establish the greatness of the African 
     heritage. The inspirational teachings of this influential 
     Black leader in the 1920s were a springboard for the success 
     in securing civil liberties for Blacks worldwide.
       We cannot speak about African liberation without reference 
     to one of the greatest sons of South Africa and a towering 
     spirit of our times. I refer to Nelson Mandela, who for 
     decades was engaged in resistance to the evil system of 
     apartheid. Like Mahatma Gandhi, his unwavering resolve made 
     it possible for a nation to throw off the shackles of 
     oppression. He is a living lend for human compassion and the 
     capacity to forgive. He reminds us of another truly great 
     African who lived many centuries ago--St. Augustine.
       I, for one, am proud of the contributions of Jamaica and 
     the Caribbean region to the struggle against colonialism and 
     apartheid in Africa through the works of our writers, 
     musicians, orators, and artists. The music of Bob Marley, of 
     Peter Tosh, and Jimmy Cliff has inspired Africans and non-
     Africans alike to not only recognize the continuation of the

[[Page E1301]]

     struggle for liberation and social justice, but to champion 
     the international movements against colonialism and neo-
     colonialism. Songs such as ``War'' and ``Zimbabwe'' inspired 
     freedom fighters and became anthems for change.
       Nor should we overlook the refusal of our outstanding 
     cricketers, Clive Lloyd, Sir Vivian Richards, Michael Holding 
     and their colleagues who refused the lure of money to play in 
     racist South Africa.
       The year 1994 represented the culmination of the movement 
     towards the liberation in Africa. The victory over apartheid 
     was the outcome of the activist struggle of those who were 
     oppressed. The contribution of the global anti-apartheid 
     movement was critical to this outcome. Jamaica is proud of 
     having sustained its commitment to the struggle against 
     apartheid. Under Norman Manley, we were second only to India 
     in declaring sanctions against South African products. 
     Jamaicans of my generation could not bring ourselves to 
     consume any product from a package marked ``made in South 
     Africa.'' Successive Jamaican administrations, from both 
     sides of the political fence, have continued the struggle.
       The hegemony of western nations has, however, over the 
     years sparked conflicts in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of 
     Congo, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Within the Caribbean 
     context, Haiti, the first independent Black nation, has 
     experienced 200 years of under-development. Small wonder that 
     the message of peace, solidarity and redemption is of much 
     significance today, in this, the 21st century, as in any 
     other period in recent history.
       In addition to the adverse effects of globalization, with 
     its trade constraints and rapidly changing information and 
     communication and communication technology, the survival of 
     our countries is further threatened by the scourge of the 
     HIV/AIDS pandemic. Notably, sub-Sahara Africa is the region 
     most affected with the disease, followed by the Caribbean. 
     Our womenfolk are at great risk and our orphanages threaten 
     to multiply. This epidemic acts as a significant brake on 
     economic growth and development. Its social and economic 
     consequences are already being widely felt in education, 
     industry, agriculture, transport, and human resources.
       There are those of us in political life who have never 
     concealed our unwavering commitment to equity and social 
     justice, between nations and within our domestic borders. For 
     this, we were once branded ideological heretics.
       Today, it is conceded that the force of globalization and 
     the building of a market economy will not by themselves 
     bridge the disparities between the developed and developing 
     world. Nor will it result in the reduction of poverty, 
     ignorance, and disease.

                          ____________________