[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 156 (Tuesday, October 16, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         FAVORING A SINGLE, INTEGRATED MARKET FOR THE CARIBBEAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 16, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in favor of the harmonization 
of the Caribbean economy, and in that spirit, introduce the article, 
``Jamaicans To New Government In Kingston: Do Not Change Regional 
Course On Caribbean Single Market, It's Vital.'' The article--written 
by Tony Best and published in New York CARIB News on Sept. 19, 2007--
highlights the optimism of Jamaicans in the Diaspora that the island 
nation's new government will keep pace with the area's push towards 
economic integration.
  The ambitious move promises to augment the production and trade of 
goods and services, engender products of better quality and prices, 
bolster the service sectors of transportation and communication, and 
elevate standards of living. The article conjectures that the 
integration of the Caribbean's air transportation may already be top 
priority, as the area's tourism nears consolidation.

             [From the New York CARIB News, Sept. 19, 2007]

Jamaicans to New Government in Kingston: Do Not Change Regional Course 
                 on Caribbean Single Market, It's Vital

                             (By Tony Best)

       Keep Jamaica on course with the rest of the Caribbean as 
     the island-nations and coastal states move forward with the 
     plan for economic integration.
       That appeal to the new administration in Kingston led by 
     Prime Minister Bruce Golding has come from Jamaicans in New 
     York who believe it would be a mistake for the Jamaica Labor 
     Party Administration to show a lack of enthusiasm for 
     Jamaica's vital role in the efforts designed to launch the 
     Single Market and Economy.
       It was a course set for Jamaica by successive Governments 
     formed by the People's National Party led by Michael Manley, 
     P.J. Patterson and more recently Portia Simpson-Miller and it 
     should be embraced by the Jamaica Labor Party's 
     administration.
       At the same time, Jamaicans are urging the new Prime 
     Minister and his cabinet to continue working closely with the 
     Jamaican Diaspora in North America and elsewhere so that the 
     country would continue to reap maximum benefits from the 
     human, financial, cultural and other resources if nationals 
     living and working abroad. ``Historically, the JLP was never 
     a very warm supporter of Caribbean unity, Caricom if you 
     will, and this goes back to the time of the West Indies 
     Federation,'' the Rev. Patrick Perrin, Pastor of Hanson Place 
     Central United Methodist Church in downtown Brooklyn told the 
     New York Carib News.
       ``But when I begin to look at the new persons on the scene 
     within the JLP government, many of the new leaders that they 
     have, I believe I don't have to have that fear,'' added 
     Pastor Perrin. ``I think the new blood, they are probably 
     more broad-minded. The economists, political scientists and 
     others who have gone through the University of the West 
     Indies, which is an integrative kind of force and studied and 
     worked with persons in the other territories, would have this 
     broad view. They would have a feeling of the Caribbean, as 
     distinct from the narrow, nationalistic, isolationist type of 
     policy.''
       ``I believe the new leadership would probably be more open 
     to an integrated Caribbean,'' he added. ``We can expect a 
     display of courage from the new Prime Minister, looking at 
     the way he dealt with his own party by not being afraid to 
     leave when he couldn't agree with certain things. That's a 
     good sign if strong leadership that bodes well for Jamaica.''
       For instance, the Methodist Minister believes the new 
     government place the question of integration of air 
     transportation high on its list of priorities.
       ``It should be a part of the general integrative package 
     because Caribbean tourism is becoming more and more 
     integrated,'' he said. ``We have to take a broad look at some 
     of the institutions that we have and decide what's best for 
     our interest. What I do know is the Caribbean needs an 
     integrated Caribbean airline. It should consider putting all 
     of the airlines together and make it work, that would be the 
     road to take. We need to look at how we integrate air travel 
     in the entire Caribbean.''
       The Methodist Minister, head of the Hanson Place church for 
     the past decade, also said Jamaicans abroad were ready and 
     eager to work with the new administration in much the same 
     that they had linked arms with the PNO Government for the 
     good of their birthplace.
       ``Jamaicans in the Diaspora are interested in the welfare 
     of their country, regardless if the political party that 
     formed the government and the new government must continue to 
     harness that nationalism and interest,'' Perrin insisted.
       Hyacinth Spence, a Jamaican community activist who is also 
     President of the New York chapter of the Mico Old Students 
     Association said that any lukewarm attitude to Caribbean 
     integration that Golding and the JLP displayed in recent 
     years when they were in the opposition was unlikely to become 
     government policy towards the rest of the Caribbean.
       ``He has to improve with his relations with the rest of the 
     Caribbean,'' Spence said of Golding. ``You can't be a 
     separatist. You can't separate Jamaica from the rest of the 
     Caribbean because Jamaica plays an important part in regional 
     affairs and development. So, if before he had lukewarm 
     feelings while in the opposition, Golding would have to 
     change them, based on the negotiations, the discussions, the 
     meetings in which they have to come to table and 
     participate'' as the government of Jamaica.
       In essence, she insisted, when in the opposition 
     politicians say things to motivate followers and criticize 
     Governments but once in power reality sets in.
       ``You have to keep the country in line with good relations, 
     progressive relations, encourage development because you have 
     to build, cement relations and make things better,'' she 
     added.
       Turning to the Diaspora, Spence expects Jamaicans to 
     continue support for their country regardless of the party in 
     office.
       ``We in the Diaspora have to make a determined effort to 
     continue to support Jamaica in all the ways we can,'' was the 
     way she put it. ``It doesn't matter which party is in 
     power.''
       Wellington Sharpe, an educator and politician in Brooklyn 
     agreed.
       ``We must give the government a chance to see what they are 
     going to do,'' he said. ``We must continue to support our 
     country. When a person in the opposition, and I have seen it 
     over and over, their positions are different from when they 
     have to make decisions as a government. It becomes a 
     different thing when they have to make decisions on things 
     that affect an entire country. Mr. Golding's statements may 
     have seemed lukewarm to regional integration but my hope is 
     that it was simply an opposition stand and not a true 
     philosophy in terms of leadership.''
       That's why he is taking a wait-and-see attitude when it 
     comes to Jamaica's approach to the rest of the Caribbean and 
     the CSME.
       ``When the decisions have to be made we would see the true 
     Bruce Golding,'' he said.

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