According to former prime minister PJ Patterson, one of the most important steps required for the Caribbean region’s rise in the global economy is the revitalization of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
Climate change and sustainable development, energy, regional transportation, agriculture and food security, and the knowledge economy are all crucial sectors that, in his opinion, require rapid attention.
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During a private Knowledge Forum held on November 8 at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and the UWI organized the event, the statesman-in-residence at the PJ Patterson Institute for Africa Caribbean Public Advocacy made the recommended speech.
His remarks, which echoed the insight of an experienced leader, were a stern appeal for greater regional creativity and integration. As he recounted the history of the Caribbean, he emphasized to the audience the region’s lasting influence on world history by saying, “The formation of the Caribbean Community was the inaugural moment of the making of the modern world.”
Patterson assigned the UWI and CAF to lead a push for further regional integration that would go all the way to Latin America. His goal is to see the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) revitalized and propelled by political commitment and will, rather than being inert.
He urged CAF to expand its credit programs and rally support from its Member Countries to revitalize the ACS, seeing it as the cornerstone of a united Caribbean.
Patterson also emphasized the need to tackle climate change and sustainable development in an area where the blue embrace of the waters is a lifeline. He painted a picture of the Caribbean that was vulnerable to unpredictable weather patterns, including longer dry seasons, longer droughts, and rising temperatures, all of which threatened the region’s rich biodiversity and marine life. Recognizing the Caribbean’s susceptibility to natural catastrophes and the disproportionate impact on its economic and cultural fabric, Patterson, with the wisdom of a sage, advocated for more awareness and action on climate financing.
After that, the topic of energy and sustainable development came up. Patterson urged a move away from reliance on fossil fuels while weighing prudence against insight, especially as countries hunt for profitable petroleum reserves. He emphasized the need to strike a balance between environmental protection and economic growth, citing programs like Suriname’s fund for renewable energy. In an effort to reduce the area’s dependency on fossil fuels, he made a clear plea to the UWI and CAF to support research and funding for renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
Patterson’s next area of interest was transportation, which is crucial to economic integration. He underlined how crucial effective air and marine transportation are to achieving the economic potential of the Caribbean. He called on CAF to give intra-regional transportation infrastructure investment top priority since it is an essential component of the Caribbean’s unity and development, given the region’s distinct topography of being a collection of islands connected and split by the sea.
Patterson presented a compelling case for improving food security, drawing inspiration from the exploits of renowned West Indian cricket players. He supported the president of Guyana’s initiative to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25% by 2025, despite growing expenses and particular topographical difficulties. Patterson urged the Caricom countries to set aside at least five percent of their GDP for the purpose of strengthening the infrastructure necessary for food production, and he pleaded with the UWI and CAF to collaborate in research and investment to accomplish this audacious aim.
Patterson then turned to the knowledge economy and challenged the Caribbean to make use of its unrealized potential in this sector. He emphasized to the audience the transformational potential of ICT, which was made clearer during the COVID-19 epidemic, and showed how it could maintain community connections, learning, and growth. He argued for a paradigm change in conventional management, education, and training, emphasizing the need for a more adaptable, dynamic strategy based on the rich heritage of creativity and invention in the Caribbean.
In closing, Patterson passionately urged the UWI to maintain its essential role in human resource development, working with local institutions. He called on CAF, which now has $50 billion in financial assets, to help the Caribbean region achieve greater integration and sustainable development by facilitating finance through public-private partnerships. In his farewell speech, he urged the leaders of the Caribbean to rise beyond their isolationism, let go of colonialism’s legacies, and work together to realize the region’s immense potential.
