by Wendy C Grenade, PhD
To our sisters and brothers in the diaspora, the diaspora is often referred to as the 16th State of Caricom. We value your contributions to national and regional development and we thank you for expanding the footprint of the Caribbean beyond our territorial shores.
Continue to be safe during this difficult period. There may be some of you who have done relatively well and you are looking for ways to give back. I charge you to adopt a school, adopt a village; adopt a child. Let’s bridge generational, gender, class, geographic and racial divides by using technology to work smarter, live better and generate wealth. I encourage us to establish mentorship programmes to twin students and schools with persons throughout the region and in the diaspora. I have a very good friend who lives in the United States who is engaged in public education that brings together home and the diaspora using online platforms. They meet virtually every week and engage in mentoring and developmental sessions, giving lessons to children etc. Entrepreneurship is also a key pillar. This is a progressive model that can be replicated. Using digital platforms for knowledge transfer, mentorship, building connections and networks across distance and seeking to generate income and in the longer term, create wealth.
My second and final broad theme – Politics and Governance
Caribbean countries, for the most part, have been able to sustain electoral democracy. There are regular elections, relatively stable institutions and the rule of law. However, a major contradiction is the Commonwealth Caribbean’s ability to sustain liberal democracy within a majoritarian political culture that lacks a democratic ethos. This in turn limits compromise and consensus, which are imperatives for genuine, substantive democracy. The dynamics of political life erodes trust, ruptures state-society relations and impedes rights, justice and freedom.
As we look toward the future we can ask, what are some vulnerabilities that are yet unknown but are already present? Equally, what are some opportunities that are already present but are not yet quite obvious? Can we afford to engage in politics of division? In many Caricom countries, the reality is, at any one time, a large percentage of citizens is isolated from contributing to national and regional development because of tribal politics. There is need to disrupt the political culture. New pathways to recovery must confront the democratic deficiencies in the region’s political praxis. We have an opportunity as we try to re-set, to ask and answer a fundamental question: in the quest to build nations, are our governance arrangements sufficiently aligned to our aspirations for freedom? I am of the strong view that there is an urgency for Caribbean countries to move beyond the politics of survivability towards a politics FOR sustainability. The politics of survivability refers to a politics that privileges the paramountcy of the political party and gives excessive powers to Prime Ministers. This political culture: marginalises opposition forces, breeds fear among public servants; constructs citizens are mere voters, often alienating many of them from the political process. This political praxis perpetuates under-development.
There is need for a new kind of politics; a politics FOR sustainability. This politics FOR sustainability requires a paradigm shift in the political culture. A political model where national development planning transcends narrow partisan interests. That is, a developmental politics, where the national development vision is insulated from the political cycle. Covid-19 recovery presents an opportunity for long-term sustainability, which requires a shared national vision; inclusiveness; unity of purpose and collectivity of efforts.
Conclusion
In summary, the global community is engulfed in three major crises, which must be confronted simultaneously: the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a health crisis of enormous proportions. While the virus is claiming lives and inflicting havoc on health systems, its impact transcends the health sector. The virus has invaded the deep crevasses of the world economy, penetrating the bloodstream of economic life. Those two interlocking crises – the health and economic crises – are ongoing against the backdrop of the climate crisis. What is at stake are lives, livelihoods and the survival of the natural environment. At the beginning, I raised some critical questions: Who are we? What is the nature of our condition? What can we do to change that condition? What can we change it to? I raised another very important question: when the certainty of uncertainty is constant, is there manoeuvring room for us to fulfill our aspirations as Caribbean people to maximise our fullest humanity? What I attempted to do was share some ideas with you to help us think through new pathways through the Covid-19 crisis.
The essence of the conversation is captured in an article published in Project Syndicate on the 3 June, 2020, titled, “Now is the time for a ‘great reset,’ it was argued that:
Tragedy need not be the only legacy of the Covid-19 crisis. On the contrary, the pandemic represents a rare but narrow window of opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and reset our world to create a healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous future.
What are some of the key takeaways?
- There is always the need to grapple with how ‘normal’ may be failing us.
- Leadership that balances science, common sense and compassion is crucial in managing crises.
- When the root cause of a problem becomes the route to recovery, there is need to reset. Therefore, there is need for a rebranded approach to Caribbean tourism is safe, smart and sustainable.
- A transformative economic model should include: a National and Regional Food Policy and Strategy; regional niche markets as part of an invigorated CSME; agri-business; transnational joint ventures in partnership with the Caribbean Diaspora and mastery of creating and optimising the use of ICTs for wealth generation;
- There is need for a new governance model that transcends the politics of survivability to the politics for sustainability.
- The future must be youth-driven, with safe, smart societies.
My Caribbean sisters and brothers at home and in the diaspora, despite the enormous challenges, let’s find inspiration in the moment. Even as we may be physically distanced, let’s remain socially connected. I encourage us to reach for the deep spirituality that has been our bedrock as Caribbean people. Let’s find victory songs, as our ancestors did.
As we celebrate this Holy Week, I encourage us to allow faith to triumph over doubt; courage over fear and peace over despair. We owe it to the memory of Mr Carol Bristol, QC and that generation that has gone before us, to continue the Caribbean journey of overcoming. Let’s run our leg of the race with purpose and tenacity. Equally, we owe it to Hope, that young child who was born in 2020. In 2040, Hope would hold us accountable for the pathway we chose at this critical juncture. I am confident that we have all that it takes to weave together our Caribbean story with the tapestry of optimism and hope; for Hope and her generation.
I thank you.
Wendy Grenade is Senior Lecturer in Political Science, Department of Government, Sociology, Social Work & Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.