Mr. Secretary–General,
Honourable Ministers,
Your Excellencies,
Members of Delegations,
Sisters and Brothers,
In the name of the People’s Revolutionary Government,
and in the
name of the people of Grenada, I extend a most cordial and warm welcome
to our
distinguished friends and colleagues from the sister states of CARICOM
to
Grenada.
Today you are our esteemed guests and we are happy to
have you
because your presence here underlines once again, the historic,
permanent and
on–going ties which exist between our countries and our peoples.
Your presence is also historic because it is the very
first time
that our country is hosting a meeting of the Standing Committee of
CARICOM
Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs.
Certainly we are glad for this opportunity to emphasize
once
again Grenada’s firm and abiding commitment to Caribbean regionalism;
to the
Caribbean integration process and to CARICOM as our region’s foremost
integration institution.
Mr. Secretary–General, only a few weeks ago our
regional
integration movement lost is stalwart - Dr. Eric Williams,
who had been an early proponent of the cause of regional unity and
cooperation.
We all share this loss.
His passing [29 March 1981] places on our shoulders an
even
greater responsibility to press on to achieve the noble cause of
cooperation
and integration in our region.
I ask Mr. Secretary–General, that we pay tribute to the
memory of
Dr. Williams by observing a minute’s silence.
This Sixth Meeting of the Standing Committee of
Ministers
responsible for Foreign Affairs takes place amidst a very complex and
tense
international situation of both political and economic dimensions.
Just next door in the neighbouring Central American
country of El
Salvador there exists a focal point of tension and insecurity.
Though based on false premises which have now been
fully exposed
and discredited, the realization of the threat of direct foreign
intervention
in El Salvador could plunge the Central American and Caribbean area
into a
stats of open conflict in a vain attempt to frustrate the legitimate
aspiration
of that heroic people.
Historically, our Caribbean community has always
struggled on the
side of peace.
Today, as these on–going and new dangers confront us we
cannot
shirk our historic responsibility, but instead must employ all our
resources,
however limited they might be in the noble pursuit of peace.
All of our diplomatic and foreign policy work must be
geared
towards working along with those who are calling for just and lasting
political
situation of this bloody conflict so close to home; and toward the
overall
accomplishment of the lofty and vital objectives of peace, justice and
freedom
internationally.
This Committee must note with deep satisfaction that
only three
days ago the Organization of African Unity [OAU] meeting in Nairobi,
Kenya,
unanimously adopted a resolution which strongly condemned Western
support for
South Africa’s illegal hold on Namibia.
In a historic demonstration of unity and collective
political
will all fifty Heads of States or Government denounced the unholy
alliance
between Pretoria and Washington, and condemned what they described as “sinister moves” by the Reagan
Administration to circumvent efforts being made to bring about
elections under
United Nations supervision.
In reiterating our own principled support for the
liberation
struggles and the call for justice, equality and self–determination in
the
Southern African region, this Committee will certainly wish to take
note of the
firm, principled and most recent stand by these distinguished
representatives
of the people of Africa; a people with whom we in the Caribbean share
unbreakable ties of blood, history and solidarity.
With regard to the Middle East, we cannot afford to
continue to
ignore the continuing tensions and conflicts generated and perpetuated
by
territorial injustice.
Israel’s latest act of aggression against the sovereign
and
independent Arab State of Iraq aggravates Middle East tensions.
The bombing of the Iraqi Nuclear Installation
[7 June 1981] constitutes a flagrant breach of international law and a
gross
violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq.
We must place on record our condemnation of Israel’s
act of
premeditated aggression that was vulgarly timed to gain cheap electoral
advantage.
We must demand that Israel refrain from such acts in
the future
and insist that Iraq be fully compensated for the material damage and
loss of
life suffered.
Mr. Secretary–General, two issues of particular concern
to all
Commonwealth countries are the issues of apartheid in sports and the
recent
U.K. Nationality Bill.
Because these are matters which, in one way or another,
greatly
touch and concern our people, this Committee will need to analyse them,
assess
their full implications and impact and take firm and principled
positions which
will ensure that the legitimate interests and concerns of our people
and other
Commonwealth and Third World citizens are fully respected and upheld.
Certain divisive and exploitative forces are attempting
to push
our countries into a situation of Cold War alignment.
To us, this is an area in which relations in and out of
the
region must be founded on the principles of cooperation, peaceful
coexistence,
mutual respect, non–interference in the internal affairs of other
States and
the practice of ideological pluralism.
Policies of confrontations, Cold Way rhetoric and
military
buildup threaten to erode the gains won in the period of the 1960’s and
1970’s
under the guidance of the Non–Aligned Movement.
It is in the interest of the Caribbean Community of
nations to
struggle for harmonious relations in the region.
This meeting will be followed by the United National
General
Assembly which opens in New York in September.
Coordinated positions and issues of importance to this
Committee
must therefore be ironed our before we face the rest of the
international
community.
Of great significance are the up–coming Mexico Summit,
the
Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Australia and the 11th
General
Assembly of the Organization of American States, which will once again
be held
in the Caribbean, this time in the sister state of St. Lucia in early
December.
This meeting should be a useful context for caucusing
Caribbean
positions regarding the several critical issues which will need close
Caribbean
collaboration at these extremely important meetings.
Mr. Secretary–General, Sisters and Brothers, as we
review the
international political situation we cannot disregard the international
economic situation.
There is no doubt that the world is facing a serious
economic
crisis.
This crisis begins in the Western industrialised
countries and
inevitably spread to the economies of the dependent developing
countries.
However, although the origin, the basic roots of the
crisis rests
beyond the border of the developing countries, our subordinate and
vulnerable
position in the world economic system means that we suffer the most
severe
effects of the crisis.
This reveals the unjust, inequitable and anarchronistic
[sic] nature
of the present world economic system.
As noted elsewhere this international economic crisis
of grave
proportions which is unfolding is having a severe impact on our region.
Tourism has taken a sharp downward decline for the
region as a
whole.
The prices of most of our major export commodities are
declining.
The price of basic imports - fuel, food, medicines,
machinery are
escalating at a rate that spells danger, if not disaster for our small,
open
independent economies.
If is against this background, and from the point of
view that we
observe international economic justice, that the Caribbean Community
must
continue to wage militant struggle for the establishment of a new
international
economic order first proposed by the developing nations and later
endorsed by
fair–minded groups from the industrial community such as the [unclear]
New
International Economic Order [NIEO],
must be deployed to guarantee better and more stable prices for our
exports -
better terms of trade.
It must democratize the international monetary system,
it must
terminate domination and manipulation of the international economic
system by a
few big countries and their multi–national corporations.
It must increase the transfer of resources, both
economic and
technological from the developed to the developing countries.
In short, the New International Economic Order can and
should
make a contribution to alleviating the existing exploitative World
Order.
Clearly, also, better commodity prices will give our
region,
indeed the developing world in general purchasing power which can then
be used
for the purchase of more industrial products.
In this way the developing countries will also assist
in the
recovery of the stagnating industrial economies.
It is fundamentally regrettable that agreement on the
launching
of the round of global negotiations on international economic
cooperation was
not reached at the 11th Special Session
of the United Nations General Assembly in 1980.
The responsibility for this failure must be placed
squarely at
the door of the three Western industrialised countries which assume a
very
uncooperative and irrational position at the two sessions.
We must devote maximum effort and energy to have these
countries
change their position and implement the programme of action on the
establishment of the New International Economic Order.
This Committee will therefore want to put particular
attention to
the upcoming Mexico Summit which could well represent
the last real chance to energize vital
discussions around the need for a New International Economic Order.
Mr. Secretary–General we must also demand that the
tremendous
resources employed in the creation of unproductive and dangerous
armaments be
gainfully utilized in the interest of the developing countries and
toiling
humanity.
This more efficient use of the world’s resources will
also serve
to consolidate international peace and security.
This colossal waste of the world’s resources could be
of
tremendous economic benefit to developing countries, and more
particularly to
the more disadvantaged and small island developing states such as most
of us
are.
These states are characterized by a variety of features
considered normal for poor, underdeveloped countries.
These features include a very low and generally
technological
development as well as a lack of institutions and organizations
designed for
modern production.
In addition, small island states obviously have small
physical
sizes and small resource bases.
The limitations of such small island base are many,
including the
need of a much stricter, economic and social use of the limited land
available.
Land use polities are therefore often indispensable to
orderly
housing, agriculture, recreational and other developmental needs.
The other features and unique limitations of small
island states
have been elaborated elsewhere.
Grenada, an no doubt, other sister states, has not
spared any
opportunity in the international arena to discuss this issue gaining
both
understanding and support of the inherent structural difficulties faced
in our
developmental efforts.
The Caribbean Community though relatively small, cannot
afford to
be isolated from international and regional peace, security, justice,
progress
and development.
Hence the significance of the Agenda before us which
should be
examined with due consideration given both to the past and future work
of the
Committee.
Before going further Mr. Secretary–General, I wish to
call
attention to the recent formation on the 18th of this month of the
Organization
of Eastern Caribbean States [OECS]
as an encouraging and significant development for our sub–region and
region in
general.
The closer co–ordination in fields such as economic and
foreign
policy which the Treaty of Basseterre seeks will help to further
consolidate
the integration process started by those seven [7] countries as far
back as
1967.
This is a positive and correct response to the
international situation
which demands the closest co–operation among States, since most of
today’s
problems and issues recognize no borders, and in fact transcend
national
frontiers.
The OECS Treaty, in the light of the relatively weak
position of
the Lesser Developed Countries of CARICOM can bolster CARICOM itself,
and in
this regard is a highly positive actor in the present regional
situation.
Another positive factor in which this Committee must
take
satisfaction is the ever growing acceptance of, and study devoted to
the
concept of the Caribbean as a zone of peace.
This concept first endorsed at the Latin American and
Caribbean
level by the Hemispheric Organization of American States at its 9th
General
Assembly in La Paz, Bolivia, in 1979 was, and remains a collection
response to
the stepped–up military activities initiated in the Caribbean by forces
which
seek to perpetuate the syndrome of dependency and exploitation.
Some of the substantive requirements to be satisfied in
order to
have our Caribbean effectively become a zone of peace includes the
following:-
(1) Prohibition of nuclear weapons in the region.
(2) An end to all aggressive military manoeuvres in the
region.
(3) The dismantling of all foreign military bases in
the region.
(4) The decolonisation of all of our territories and
the
establishment of machinery to end all forms of aggression, including
assassinations, mercenary invasions, propaganda interventions and
diplomatic
and economic pressures.
When these conditions are fulfilled he most vital
prerequisite
for progressive development and peace will characterize our Caribbean
community.
Certainly, our sister state of Belize now so close to
independence, yet still beset with a web of issues which threaten to
further
delay her legitimate attainment of independence with full territorial
integrity, stands to benefit from this declaration.
I am certain that this Committee will wish once again
to pledge
our fullest support for and solidarity with, the Government and people
of
Belize.
Equally important is our region’s deep and continuing
concern
with the constant threat of mercenary invasions.
The cause of peace in the Caribbean can e further
reinforced and
strengthened if metropolitan countries take urgent and active steps to
prohibit
the recruitment, financing, training, transit, assembly and use of
mercenaries
in violation of established International Law.
The declaration and practice of the Caribbean as a zone
of peace
would also undoubtedly help to enhance the security of all Caribbean
States.
Mr. Secretary–General, distinguished delegates, this in
brief
summarizes the nature of the International and Regional situation.
It is a very grave one and we face many dangers.
To improve the existing situation in the region and in
the
Caribbean Community in particular and to deal effectively with the
several
problems and issues affecting the regional and integration process, a
CARICOM
Heads of Government meeting seems the next logical step in community
activities.
The CARICOM Heads of Government have not met since 1975.
This is a fundamentally unfortunate reality as many
events have
occurred which necessitates a meeting of the highest organ of CARICOM.
A CARICOM Heads of Government meeting will also serve
to
strengthen CARICOM and will constitute a useful forum in which to
exchange
views and work out common approaches in light of the complex and tense
world
and regional situation.
We in Grenada and no doubt other countries in the
region would
like to see this Sixth Meeting of the Standing Committee responsible
for
Foreign Affairs recommend strongly a meeting of CARICOM Heads of
Government.
Mr. Secretary–General, almost 150 years after the
abolition of
slavery, after nearly two decades of formal independence for several
countries
of our region - we ask ourselves where are we as a people?
What is the state of our housing; our health
facilities, our
educational institutions, our physical infrastructure, how developed is
our
agriculture?
Our industrial base and our intra–regional institutions
for co–operation
and development?
The truth is that despite progress on some levels,
CARICOM
countries are still dependent and vulnerable, vulnerable to hurricanes
and as
vulnerable to international political pressures and economic
fluctuations.
In an effort to deepen the integration process started
eight [8]
years ago, my Government issues a strong call for unity, solidarity and
further
integration among all members of the Caribbean Community.
Let us face the world as one united region conscious of
our
collective strength and our individual frailty.
As a people we are building a genuine process of
fraternal
relations based on respect and co–operation.
We respect sister countries of the region and expect
them to take
independent decisions and to pursue, if they so wish, independent paths.
But with your kind indulgence, Mr. Secretary–General, I
want to
stress that Grenada is obviously not opposed to our sister States
receiving
assistance from whatever source they wish to receive from them.
Indeed, we urge all donors, potential donors to make
positive and
substantial contributions to the region’s poor.
However, what Grenada take exception to will continue
to reject
is the manipulative and divisive use of funds geared towards
compromising our
institutions, our solidarity among us and our people’s integrity.
Grenada will always condemn neo-colonialist and
imperialist
tactics whether they are disguised, dressed up or naked.
For our part, Mr. Secretary–General, i pledge Grenada
Government’s willingness to continue to work in a spirit of fraternal
and
sisterly co–operation for greater Caribbean community integration.
Our record is clear.
We are fully committed to even greater and greater
unity among us
in the region, even greater and greater practical co–operation.
These in fact are among our guiding principles!
In the spirit of the region’s true pioneer
integrationist and in
the memory of the outstanding Caribbean statesman, we once again
welcome all of
you to Grenada.
Mr. Secretary–General, sisters and brothers, I declare
open the 6th
meeting of the Standing Committee of Ministers responsible for Foreign
Affairs,
and wish that our deliberations be constructive, fruitful and help to
advance
the process of brining more benefits to the people of our region and
objective
that must always underline all of our efforts.
Grenada, Mr. Secretary–General, pledges to continue to
work
towards a stronger, brighter and more united Caribbean.
Thank you very much.
