[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E455-E456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CHALLENGES FACING CARIBBEAN REGION AS IT FACES INTEGRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise again to strongly support the words 
spoken by the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Honorable P.J. Patterson, 
in an effort to bring to light challenges facing the region and his 
proposals for what actions need to take place to secure a brighter 
future for the Caribbean nations. I would also like to enter into the 
Record the second portion of his speech delivered March 9 to the 
Protocolary Session of the Permanent Council of the Organization of 
American States on the theme of ``Caribbean Integration In Emerging 
Hemispheric Relations''.


                  Democracy, Security and Development

       I am convinced that unless we focus in a meaningful way on 
     the intrinsic link between democracy, good governance and 
     international security on the one hand, and development on 
     the other, our goals for peace, stability and political and 
     economic security will always remain elusive. We must 
     therefore address the development agenda with the same energy 
     and commitment as we have sought to strengthen the democratic 
     agenda, giving each equal dedication, in order that the 
     benefits of democracy can be widely felt to improve the 
     quality of life for our peoples.
       When Heads of Government of the Hemisphere met during the 
     4th Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata, Argentina last 
     November, we jointly committed ourselves to the task of 
     Creating Jobs to Fight Poverty and Strengthen Democratic 
     Governance in the Hemisphere. Our Declaration, issued at the 
     end of the meeting, was a clarion call for sustained, long 
     term and equitable economic growth that creates jobs, reduces 
     poverty, eliminates hunger and raises the standard of living 
     for the most vulnerable sectors and social groups in our 
     diverse societies. We also stressed the need to expand trade, 
     as a means of boosting growth and our capacity to generate 
     more, higher quality, and better-paying jobs.
       As small open economies, CARICOM countries are highly 
     dependent on trade as the primary driver of economic and 
     social growth, and by extension the stability and democracy 
     of the region.
       In 1994, when we launched the Summit of the Americas 
     process, Jamaica and the rest of CARICOM readily put our 
     efforts and scarce human, financial and technical resources 
     into ensuring that our collective vision of prosperity in the 
     Americas would become a reality. Four years later, we 
     formally launched the FTAA negotiations, fully cognizant of 
     the contribution that economic integration and trade 
     liberalization in the Americas could make to create jobs, 
     fight poverty and strengthen democratic governance in our 
     Hemisphere.
       It is with disappointment that on the eve of my departure 
     from office as Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairman of the 
     Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on External Negotiations of 
     CARICOM, the FTAA is faltering on the rock of political will.
       CARICOM is fully committed to the goal and objectives of 
     the Summit of the Americas generally. If the FTAA has no 
     future, we must be realistic and begin to explore new 
     alternatives. Given the slow progress to date in the Doha 
     Development Round of multilateral negotiations, we need to 
     find a hemispheric impetus for advancing discussions on key 
     issues in the WTO.
       For example, the Work Programme for Small Economies in the 
     DDA as well as the recent Aid For Trade initiative could 
     build on the initiatives and acceptance by Hemispheric Heads 
     at our Fourth Summit, that smaller economies should be 
     recognised as a special category of countries. Special and 
     differential treatment in favour of smaller economies have to 
     be an accepted fundamental principle of whatever negotiations 
     we pursue.
       Our collective vision of growth, economic prosperity and 
     stability for the Hemisphere must not be confined to the 
     narrow territorial boundaries of the hemisphere. Let us 
     broaden the boundaries of our collaboration beyond the OAS 
     and the United Nations. It is high time for the Caribbean and 
     Latin American countries to pool our collective bargaining 
     resources in the WTO, where we also have common goals and 
     concerns.
       Every effort must be made to bring Haiti into full 
     participating in the various trade negotiations in the 
     hemisphere and the WTO. In this case, there can be no 
     question about the need for special and differential 
     treatment and technical assistance.
       Let me place on record the appreciation of CARICOM for the 
     contribution of OAS and CIDA to technical assistance and 
     capacity building. As we contemplate the multiple trade 
     agendas facing our region, there will be need for sustained 
     assistance to ensure our adjustment and implementation of 
     these new obligations.
       How can we then ensure that actions taken at the 
     hemispheric level dovetail automatically into the regional 
     development agenda, the two processes working simultaneously 
     towards a united objective? I will return to my own thoughts 
     on this later in my presentation.

[[Page E456]]

                Integration--A Response to Globalisation

       The emergence of various economic blocs across the globe is 
     not mere coincidence, but a natural progression towards 
     strengthening the ability of individual countries to use 
     their collectivity to face the new era of international 
     economic relations.
       Smaller units operating on their own can no longer be 
     viable counterweights in this rapidly changing world. Based 
     on this recognition, we in this hemisphere have not shied 
     away from the inevitable and we see the integration movement 
     as our best response to the challenges we face. The 
     establishment of CARICOM, MERCOSUR, THE Andean Group et al, 
     are therefore regional ``lifelines'' cast upon the turbulent 
     waters of globalisation.
       Let me share briefly with you, some of the challenges we 
     face in the Caribbean. We have been seriously affected by the 
     EU's stipulation as it relates to bananas and sugar.
       In the case of the former, we have expressed the importance 
     of the higher tariff of Euro 275/t to ensure adequate 
     protection is in place for our farmers.
       For sugar, the proposed cut of some 39% is a grave concern 
     for us, as is the proposed timetable for implementation over 
     a four-year period.
       In 2004 damage from Hurricane Dennis totalled some 
     US$40million. The impact was much greater in 2005, with more 
     hurricanes affecting the agricultural and tourism sectors, 
     and even more horrible damage to our infrastructure.
       Through these illustrations, which in some cases may be 
     magnified based on the country in the region you choose, I 
     proffer today, that our solutions for the various sub-regions 
     we represent and by extension, the hemisphere, cannot be 
     simple, unilateral or implemented overnight.
       CARICOM formally launched the Single Market just over a 
     month ago and we hope to move towards the Single Economy by 
     2008, as we had envisaged in the Grand Anse Declaration of 
     1989 in Grenada.
       We have, through the methodical, comprehensive and measured 
     approach, taken the necessary steps to ensure that our modus 
     operandi, carries with it the philosophy, that no country 
     will be left behind. For this reason, we in CARICOM have been 
     careful to elaborate plans for a Regional Development Fund to 
     assist in the adjustment period. We also fervently believe 
     that at the hemispheric level, no country should be left 
     behind.
       Over the years and even now, we have put in place a number 
     of other institutional arrangements that seek to ensure a 
     structured operation through which we hope any future 
     transition can be seamless and effective. CARICOM Heads 
     entertain no misconceptions of the challenges we face. If we 
     are to effectively deliver on the objectives in our revised 
     Treaty of Chaguaramas, we must take some bold steps and 
     remain unswerving in the commitment to achieve the targets.
       The moment has arrived for us to now seek solid bipartisan 
     commitment to national and regional goals, which will then 
     translate into full integration into other institutional 
     arrangements. The strength of governance will only be 
     enhanced when we are able to replace the retracing of steps 
     by different administrations, with a brisk walk forward 
     towards our common goals.
       Education must be an engine driving growth and pushing 
     development. The technology-driven world we live in today 
     demands knowledge, skills, research and solutions, and a 
     thirst for answers by our youth. We must facilitate that 
     process at all levels to ensure that progression from one 
     level to the other, from one discipline to the next, takes 
     place consistently. If we are to achieve these objectives as 
     outlined in the Millennium Development Goals, the Charters of 
     the Organization and the Strategic Plan, we must act now on 
     this other pillar of development.
       Justice and the rule of law in all its forms, at all 
     levels, must exist without compromise or prejudice. We have 
     to exercise the will to maintain law and order, not merely 
     through the imposition of penalties but through the 
     encouragement of a sense of just, law-abiding and ordered 
     behaviour by all our citizens. Too much of our resources are 
     being spent on managing conflict and security and therefore 
     preventing us from providing more, as opposed to securing 
     less, as we do now.
       Sometimes when we seek to solve larger problems, such as 
     the challenges to globalisation, we over-think and over-
     analyse them and by-pass the adherence to the fundamentals. 
     We must always be mindful of the basic elements, the smallest 
     cogs in the wheels, the importance of measurements.
       Let me now address an issue which is very close to my 
     heart. The conduct of international and institutional 
     relations can only be improved when we allow principle, 
     integrity, honour and justice to prevail. The people we lead 
     and the interests we serve are looking to us to provide 
     enlightened and inspired leadership. That expectation becomes 
     magnified with every decision we are called upon to take, 
     because we are more interdependent than we have ever been 
     before.
       Security, health and environment issues remind us daily of 
     our own vulnerability as individuals and countries and behove 
     us to be mindful of these concerns at all levels. The recent 
     outrage in the Muslim world recalls for us the far-reaching 
     effect of our actions and by extension our own 
     intolerances. We must guard against these inclinations.
       Inclusion and inclusiveness must be one of the principles 
     which we use to dovetail our own actions and create what I 
     would call concentric circles of goodwill. The old adage 
     holds true today that ``we will reap what we sow''. Let us be 
     mindful of the seeds we put down today, to avoid reaping 
     bitter fruits in the future.
       Sixty years after its creation, the OAS is summoned to face 
     bold new challenges which confront our entire Hemisphere. In 
     order to adequately respond, the modality by which it 
     operates must change. It must avoid sterile debate and become 
     an instrument of positive change.
       This requires that it become an effective Institution for 
     decision-making at the highest political and economic levels. 
     This must be your quest for the decade ahead.
       Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
       It has indeed been a pleasure for me to address you today; 
     to share my thoughts and to issue a charge and a challenge to 
     you all. As life and experience have taught me, the process 
     of learning never ends. As we learn we must impart, for in 
     the words of Khalil Gibran--``to withhold is to die''. We 
     have a tremendous responsibility to make the world safer and 
     better, for those who have placed their confidence in us. We 
     have many opportunities to do so everyday by our own conduct 
     and leadership. Let us not deny ourselves a Hemisphere of 
     social justice where peace, prosperity and harmony will 
     prevail.

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