Donors urged to do the right thing

There is a popular saying, ‘A promise is a comfort to a fool’, which warns against trusting in the assurances of others. For many, mankind is too fallible and trust should therefore be placed in God alone. Still, what kind of world would we live in if a man’s word could not be trusted? In the final analysis, you are a sum of your thoughts and actions. A man is who he says and shows he is.

In light of this, it is disheartening to hear that four-and-a-half years after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, only half of the money pledged to aid in the relief, recovery and repair efforts has been handed over. This revelation was made by that country’s Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, who implored those in the international community to honour their commitments and deliver the nearly five billion dollars outstanding.

The PM took great pains to explain that the funds collected so far have already been used constructively to rebuild entire neighbourhoods and house some of the 1.5 million people who were without housing after the earthquake. He added that Haiti, with its meager resources, even constructed 3 000 homes and rebuilt another 4 000. However, at present 125 000 people still live in tents, and have been doing so for approximately 54 months.

It is true that countries all over the world are experiencing real economic hardships as a result of a global recession. For many, the state of their economies may be altered and it may not seem possible to deliver on sums promised. It is difficult to be charitable when you or your own may be suffering and need help yourselves. Yet, it is crucial that states keep to their word or, where possible, assist in any other way relevant; for instance extended periods for disbursement of funds, or a waiver of payment for services given would also be useful.

Haiti needs the international community to step up to the plate and do the right thing. When considering economic hardships, none could be greater than those faced by that country over the years, being burdened with a debt of 150 million gold francs by France (later reduced to 90 million) for the audacity of fighting for and gaining their independence. Haiti kept to this commitment and repaid France for 122 years until their debt was cleared in 1947, so why wont other states do the same and keep their commitments? Surely their situations are not as dire as Haiti’s?

After the earthquake, there was an outpouring of goodwill. These gestures demonstrated the wonderful spirit that characterises humanity. At that time religious, political and ethnic differences were put aside and the love for humankind shone through in displays of kindness, charity and unity. In a world where economic hardship is prevalent and environmental disasters frequent, it was heartening to see that generosity existed. Let us prove that it still exists today. Though a few strides have been made in Haiti’s rebuilding, it is certainly not sufficient. It is time for those who pledged to put their money where their mouths are.

Security concerns continue

Despite the amazing advances in technology and engineering, global air travel has been most impacted by a very basic and ancient human behaviour – aggression. Sad to say, but there is nothing that has changed the way we travel more so than acts of terrorism.

For the vast majority, the air travel experience has now become tedious and stressful, due in no small part to the increasingly restrictive security measures implemented at the points of entry and departure. Comfort and expediency are now key watchwords for passengers as they have to hustle to meet strictly enforced boarding times for flights; in easily removable items of clothing.

Nonetheless, we certainly understand the need for precautions. When one is about to be suspended thousands of feet in the air, the more that can be done to enhance feelings of safety, the better. However, the most recent tragedy involving Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 has given onlookers around the world a new shock as it raises new, perhaps seldom considered questions related to air travel and safety.

First, there is the question of the routes that are used by airliners to transport their passengers. It is assumed by the travelling public that these would have been sanctioned by some authority that is tasked with monitoring the situation and providing appropriate updates to airline authorities. However, the MH17 incident has revealed that there are instances where commercial airlines may still be operating in controversial airspace; indeed, it was in response to the Malaysian Airlines crash that other commercial carriers announced their decision to change routes. Prior to this incident, however, making the call to re-route planes must have been a difficult one for airliners. They would need to balance the probability of being caught in crossfire with the effect that re-routing would no doubt have on scheduling and fuel costs. Of course, now that civilians have indeed been killed, the decision is quite easy.

This also leads one to question whether passengers should be given information about the intended route for their flight, so that they might decide for themselves whether they are willing to take the risk of travelling through a potentially dangerous area. However, releasing this type of information might only serve to introduce another security threat, as it might make the task of would-be terrorists and hijackers that much easier.

Another security issue that the MH17 crash has highlighted is related to the passengers themselves. It has been reported that the AIDS research community is currently reeling from this incident, since over 100 researchers and advocates in this field were on that plane en route to the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia. It is already common practice for world leaders to travel separately to summits and similar events, but what about top technocrats and experts? As seen in this tragic example, they are often valuable repositories of knowledge and losing them can be just as serious a blow to the world as the loss of a political leader. This may well need to be an important consideration going forward for any organisation sending a delegation to an event anywhere in the world.

We all long for the day when we can fly with fewer restrictions, but until that time, all we can do in the face of such tragedies is to mourn for those lost, regroup and put strategies in place to minimise or eliminate such senseless loss from recurring.

Getting on track

ONE can only wish countries of this region the best as they embarked on what will come down to be a major project to bring stability and economic progress to the Caribbean.

In as much as one or two Caribbean countries continue to register growth whereas the others struggled, it is now recognised that a concerted Caribbean effort is required to improve the lot of the regional people who continue to endure economic challenges.

The project in question is that of reforming the business operating environment in CARICOM member states and creating a work plan for advancing decisions Heads of Government made with respect to the Community’s Growth Agenda.

This project was discussed at the recent Heads of Government Summit in Antigua and Barbuda. It found favour with all the leaders and their delegations who were in Antigua and Barbuda for the Summit.

The Communiqué that was issued following the Summit said that Heads (of Governments) welcomed the Second Report of the Commission on the Economy, which among other things also highlighted the importance of a stable macroeconomic environment as the springboard for the Community’s Growth Agenda.

In their review of the Work Plan, leaders agreed on the formulation of a regional fiscal sustainability framework within six months and the design of a regional debt management mechanism. They as well agreed to appoint a CARICOM Debt Advocacy Team to advocate on behalf of Member States with Development Partners on appropriate debt relief and/or debt amelioration arrangements for the highly indebted CARICOM States.

It is important to note that in formulating a plan to deal with growth, stable macroeconomic environment and a debt reduction, Caribbean countries have a lot on their plate. While therefore it remains an ambitious undertaking, it would require all hands on deck and the widest cooperation possible by all stakeholders.

Governments have recognised that they alone do not have the answers to rebuild Caribbean economies. Many of them lacked the financial resources to do things which they would normally be expected to take the lead in pursuing. Some of them are cash starved because they are not seeing the revenue flows to which they were accustomed.

They cannot borrow like before because they have incurred enormous debt while attempting to undertake rescue missions to cope with the recession.

The Communiqué even reflected this point when leaders stated that growing out of the current burdensome debt is not realistic for certain Member States given their structural and other economic vulnerabilities.

 Roles have been mapped out for the private sectors across the region to partner fully with governments to create economic growth, economic stability and development.

Of late, discussions at both the national and regional levels have focused on Public-Private Sector Partnerships where both are expected to pool resources to get the job done. This was one of the featured events at this year’s annual meeting of the Caribbean Development Bank in Guyana. If one looks at the different economies of the Caribbean, it would be shown very clearly that the private sector remains the engine of economic growth. The end of Summit Document noted as well that Leaders mandated the Commission to address the regulatory framework required to promote venture capital and other new financial products and innovative financing schemes to support the Growth Agenda. Kudos to the efforts.

Community spirit the key

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government held their annual conference in Antigua & Barbuda from July 1–4. For some, this meeting was viewed as yet another regional talkshop; but for those of us with a more positive outlook, there were promising steps taken to turn talk into action.

Of particular note was the adoption of the first-ever Strategic Plan for the Caribbean Community, which is intended to “reposition the Community and identify priorities and activities that would meet the challenges of the international environment”.

According to a release from the Secretariat, the plan identifies eight Strategic Priorities and key areas of interventions: Building Economic Resilience; Social Resilience; Environmental Resilience; Technological Resilience; Strengthening the CARICOM Identity and Spirit of Community; Strengthening Community Governance along with Co-ordinated Foreign Policy, Research and Development and Innovation.

As we would expect following the two-year consultation period, the areas identified are indeed significant. However, one which we see as pivotal to the success of all of them is the strengthening of the CARICOM identity and community spirit. Despite the many organs and institutions to advance the regional integration movement, it is the people of the region which put the ‘community’ in CARICOM; therefore, without their interest and involvement, there can be little hope for integration to move forward, rather than in circles.

We would never underestimate the impact of regional entities on the lives of Caribbean nationals. Nonetheless, we are concerned that the idea of a regional identity is still far away from the everyday experience of the Caribbean citizen. Indeed, sometimes even the very officials who pledge to promote a regional outlook can be inconsistent in their utterances and actions. For regional integration to be truly successful, regional governments will have to make a greater effort to analyse national issues through the lens of regionalism and incorporate regional perspectives into national discussions – and not just as a basis of negative comparison – so that citizens begin to see themselves as part of one regional family on a consistent basis.

Sad to say, but we would bet that if asked the significance of July 4, the average CARICOM citizen would cite the Independence Day of the USA. While this is indeed true, it is also celebrated as CARICOM Day. Yet, from what we can tell, this is an occasion that is met with little fanfare throughout the region. As far as we can see, it has little to no significance to the man on the street, or even the executive in the office or the technocrat in the conference room.

The selection this year of an official CARICOM song is a step in the right direction, as anthems have long been seen as a unifying force for a nation. If regional governments are serious about this aspect of the Strategic Plan, there are tried and true awareness-raising methods that have not yet been fully utilised, such as an increased media presence year-round, with a spike during the lead-up to CARICOM Day. Similarly, existing regional entities can do more to promote a feeling of connectedness among their staff, as well as the Caribbean public they serve.

We are not suggesting a subsumption of the national identity into a generic regional one, but there must be a way for the two to co-exist more comfortably.

Caribbean, UK to deal with challenges

EVERYONE – that is people in the Caribbean – will definitely look forward to the commitments the UK has made in helping its former colonies in this region come to grips and resolving many of the challenges these islands continue to face. This is what will be expected from the UK Caribbean Ministerial Forum recently. Such occasions present parties on both sides of the table to discuss in a passionate way concerns raised by one and promises from the other to see how they can co-operate to correct. It is only through consultations that parties and even individuals resolve differences and identify areas through which they can both co-operate to deal effectively with pressing issues.

Prior to the convening of the Forum, Mark Simmonds, the UK’s Foreign Office Minister for the Caribbean, explained just where his country stands in forging closer ties with this region of approximately six million people. Correspondence from the British High Commission in Barbados quoted the Minister as saying that the forum, the first of which took place in 1998, remained the centre-piece for high level discussions between both sides on the big issues. He said as well both the British and Caribbean governments are working with real vigour to boost economic growth, tackle the debt burden regional countries are wilting under, and to create jobs opportunities for our citizens. It is no mean sport when a small group of island nations with open economies and demonstrating vulnerabilities of every sort, must confront what to them is a global climate that brings with some very challenging conditions be they economic or social. Therefore every offer of help will be more than welcomed by the Caribbean.

What makes this commitment by the UK so significant is that it offers hope and paves the way for increased co-operation and exchange of ideas that best suit the requirements deemed as important for the achievement of progress in this part of the world. It would be recalled not so long ago that the Caribbean islands, as Tourism destinations, were up in arms with the UK authorities over the controversial Air Passenger Duty (APD) which negatively affected the flow of visits from the UK to the Caribbean. Both collectively through the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and individually, Caribbean islands had mounted all kinds of responses to the British Government to have the APD removed. The imposition was not in their best interest as it had threatened to cripple the tourism industry and a market (the UK) which is still a very lucrative source market for long-stay visitors coming to these shores. To their credit they have got something of a respite and hopefully the APD will be a thing of the past. However, this will call for even more greater effort in demonstrating just how vital tourism is to the tourism dominated economies and why threats like an APD cannot by tolerated. Equally, the debt burden which has been a major talking point in the Caribbean has to be dealt with.

Luckily, so far, the heavily indebted nations of this region have not reneged on their debt repayment although some have sought debt rescheduling with creditors. This is unlike the events of the 1980s when some Latin American countries decided they were in no position to meet debt repayment and subsequently defaulted. In a nutshell, therefore, we require all the help we can get and will be holding the British to their words.

No easy choices

The changing times have left the world in an interesting position as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed by the United Nations (UN) on Thursday.

In recent times, two US states have decriminalised or legalised the use of marijuana and a range of derivative products. The South American nation of Uruguay has also legalised the substance and even as CARICOM continues to debate its direction, Jamaica has moved ahead with relaxing legal restrictions on the use of this dug for personal use. Earlier this month, the Portia Simpson Administration announced that it would be amending the laws related to possession of small quantities of the substance for personal use, smoking in private places and the use of medical marijuana.

Many commentators maintain that it is important that the distinction be emphasised between decriminalisation and legalisation. The former does not declare the substance completely safe, but instead changes the type of punishment meted out to those found in breach of the law. Many see this as a pragmatic tactic in the ‘war on drugs’. It is felt that resources could be put to better use than hearing cases of possession in already backlogged courts and sending such offenders into an overcrowded prison system. It is suggested instead that fines or similar punitive measures be employed. Meanwhile, legalisation takes it a step further and removes the taboo from the use of the product altogether.

Surely this last step might be a difficult about-face to accept for many officials in the healthcare and security sectors. After decades of being on the frontlines of the battle, being told that the war is over can be a tough pill to swallow – especially if the message being sent is that one was fighting for a cause that has been made null and void. However, despite what some fear, legalisation does not mean a total free-for-all and that ganja will become as ubiquitous a flavour as chocolate and vanilla. There is still accommodation for restrictions and regulations to be applied, as is currently the case with alcohol, tobacco and other controlled substances.

Certainly, this is an issue in which there are no easy answers. Human manipulation of naturally occurring substances has resulted in the creation of addictive and harmful substances, some more so than others. Some, due to their history or perhaps the strength of the lobby of their proponents, have established a somewhat respectable status even though their harmful effects are well documented by the medical community. In the end, it may come down to a question of resources and whether it is more cost-effective and feasible to regulate the sale and use of the substance than to prohibit and police it.

Some might say that the writing is on the wall and perhaps the theme for this year’s International Day is indicative of this sentiment. The UN is this year urging persons to ‘make health your ‘new high’ in life, not drugs’. Rather than focus on the ongoing marijuana debate, the international body instead highlights the proliferation of new psychoactive substances (NPS) which it says “can be far more dangerous than traditional drugs”. One only has to recall the spate of bizarre and violent behaviour exhibited by those who consumed bath salts to understand their concern. The UN is therefore asking persons, especially young people, to experience life naturally and not under a chemical haze. But given the mixed signals that are constantly sent about the role of narcotic, pharmaceutical and other types of substances in recreational, medicinal or even everyday use, this is no mean feat.

Watching and waiting

AS the lone superpower, which along with its allies has the responsibility to maintain global peace, the United States has its hands full with many hot spots demanding urgent attention. The Ukraine crisis is getting out of hand with reports of an ongoing assault on the Government in that European country. In the South China sea tensions are mounting over territorial claims between China, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and a few others. To add fuel to fire, parts of Iraq are now under the control of militants said to be linked to Al Qaeda. The civil war in Syria is still raging and the Iranian issue over sanctions relating to that country’s supposedly nuclear programme, is still very much in the limelight.

Many have for years looked to the United States as something of a global policeman although of late policymakers in that country believed that should no longer be the case; instead they have been pushing for an isolationist foreign policy. To stay out of these hotspots would send a signal that the United States is becoming weak, although this does not hold water since the Americans have until recently been involved in two lengthy wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Those two were enough to sap any nation especially when it is considered the loss of personnel and concerns raised by nationals for their country to stop the wars and to bring the troops home. Indeed, that was a campaign plank for President Barack Obama. It can also be viewed from the angle that perhaps the emergence of the new hot spots while there may be other reasons for them to surface, could have something to do with a war wary US and the attitudes of its nationals towards conflict. Add to that the view that the United States’ economy is gradually settling down to lasting economic growth and stability, and it would be seen that nothing will be done to abort whatever gains have already been secured from the growing economy. Wars are costly and while most commentators will suggest that wars usually redound to the benefit of the American economy, that view seems not to be a consideration at this time.

But these are developments that the United States cannot ignore. President Obama has said repeatedly that American troops will not be stationed in the Ukraine. However, the show of force by way of sending Aircraft carriers and destroyers to Europe and having American soldiers participate in military exercises on the continent, seemed not to be enough.

Certainly and with its allies in Western Europe, the US has been using sanctions to “punish” Russia for its reported involvement in the Ukraine. At this point they seemed not to be having the desired impact in deterring the actions of Russia if it is accepted that the latter country is directly stoking the flames of unrest in the Ukraine. If they are, the Russian Government seems not to care too much about them.

As for the instability in the South China Sea, this calls for diplomacy rather than military involvement even though some US military presence remains in proximity. Recent reports have indicated that an American air assault on the positions being held by militants in Iraq is not far away. As these situations unfold, those of us with an interest in seeing positive outcomes to them will continue to follow the events.

We’re all in this together

Coming at a very strategic point in the calendar, just on the tail-end of a week’s worth of activities celebrating World Environment Day, was Sunday’s observance of World Oceans Day. This year’s theme, ‘Together, we have the power to protect the oceans’, tied in nicely with the focus of the activities that took place last week, which focused on small island developing states (SIDS), climate change and, of course, putting a stop to rising sea levels.

It is rather unfortunate that even though SIDS’ contribution to global pollution is not as great as large, industrialised countries, they are the ones who face the greatest threat to their territorial integrity as sea levels rise. As is constantly emphasised, all countries have a stake in the protection of the earth, as the effects of climate change can wreak havoc across both continent and island, big or small. The more extreme hot and cold temperatures, as well as stronger storms and unusual weather patterns, have all been attributed to changing climate conditions.

However, SIDS appear to be bearing the brunt of these events. Their small size means that evacuation to safe ground may be reduced or even impossible as the increased severity of the natural disasters could mean the devastation of the entire country. Meanwhile, rebuilding efforts are equally challenging in these developing nations with their limited economic resources.

Therefore, it really is incumbent upon the people and governments of these SIDS to raise their voice – as urged by the theme for World Environment Day – and make sure that this issue not only remains a priority on the global agenda, but that larger countries are made to keep the commitments they have made with regard to reducing pollution levels and meeting other targets.

Beyond boundaries

Officials have cited a lack of collaboration between and within regions of the SIDS grouping and frankly, this is quite disappointing. How will they be able to get larger countries to take their cause on board when they themselves have not got their act fully together? Certainly, individual efforts are not to be scoffed at, but it’s better together.

At the recently held Lionfish Derby in Barbados, Acting Director of the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU), Dr. Lorna Inniss, noted that efforts to keep down the numbers of this invasive species in Barbados’ waters are hampered by a lack of co-ordination at the regional level. Common sense, of course, since lionfish have no respect for maritime boundaries and will go wherever the tides and food supplies take them.

The definition of an island is well known – a piece of land surrounded by water. Therefore, nowhere should World Ocean’s Day hold greater import than in a country such as ours. When we consider the role that the ocean plays in so many aspects of island life – in tourism, fisheries, shipping, arts and craft and so on – there must be a sense of responsibility on the part of every Grenadian to show respect to this massive resource. When we consider the fact that oceans span 71 per cent of the Earth’s surface, there must be continued global co-operation for its protection.

Let’s talk about sex

Today, we take a look at broaching the topic of sex with our children.

Why is this important? How early should we consider having this discussion? What material is available to us to help facilitate such discourse? What are the benefits of our children being properly educated about sex? What are the dangers being presented to our children today as it relates to sexual activity? These are some the questions parents need to be able to answer as they help to rear their children in today’s society.

No doubt that for many of us who were privileged to have our first set of talks about sexual matters with our parents, those moments were amongst our most awkward. Of those parents who actually worked up the courage, some fidgeted, some used various analogies (particularly those with animals, such as the birds and the bees) and others pointed to diagrams in whatever reading material they could find. Other parents did not even bother to have such conversations, the result of this being that many of our foreparents will tell you how ignorant they were on matters of human sexuality and development. What little information was gathered along the way was quite often shrouded in old-wives tales and other beliefs passed on from generation to generation.

Nonetheless, they would tell you that they got by just fine.

However, today there are simply too many challenges and even dangers that cannot be ignored if we are to ensure the safest possible environment for our children. This is not to say that there were not threats before, but with Information Age well upon us, our children can now have access to information that, if not filtered by responsible persons in authority, can open them up too early to aspects of life that should be ‘Adults Only’. More worrying is the fact the same information technology now makes it easier for our children to become targets for cyber criminals, including sexual predators who would make use of their naiveness to lure them into child pornography and other forms of inappropriate behaviours, as well as to draw from them personal information that could put their entire families at risk.

Parents, do not let someone else educate your children about sex before you do. You should be the ones to shape their ideas on the subject. Do not leave it to their friends, social media and the Internet, or even schools, since, though the information presented may be correct, it will not carry with it the values and expectations specific to your household that you are trying to instill in your children.

In an article written by Cherith Pedersen, a clinical mental health counsellor, she encourages that for children ages four and under, parents need to label body parts correctly, talk about good versus bad touch and in simple terms, where babies come from. As the child grows, she advises that the conversation ought to remain child appropriate, allowing the child to view sex as natural and a pleasurable part of life, whilst reinforcing your expectations about them having sex. Pedersen pointed out that a close parent-child relationship will set the tone for such conversations. Children, already exposed to sexualised media content, need to feel that they can approach their parents about any of their concerns and that in return, they will be provided with support and guidance.

Monitoring your children while also leading by example can help to shape your children’s decision making in this area. The latter is very important as how children treasure their bodies and respect the bodies of others will be shaped significantly by the way in which their parents do the same.

Caribbean may hold geopolitical significance

OF late the global political environment has taken on a reality where tensions are brewing among some of the major actors (countries) in international politics.

The tensions have surfaced both in Europe and in Asia. The decision by Russia to annex Crimea, the Ukraine peninsula and the subsequent turmoil in Eastern Ukraine has brought a swift reaction by the West (the United States and Western Europe) in the form of sanctions against Russia, which is accused of having a hand in what is now the Ukraine crisis. They have threatened more biting ones should the situation escalate and many commentators have described relations between the West and Russia as the worst since the start of the 1990 when the Cold War ended.

Many hundreds of miles away from Europe, China is said to be asserting its power in the South China Sea much to the annoyance of the Philippines and Vietnam, which claim sovereignty over part of that area. China and Japan are also at it over a group of islands which both countries have claimed as their own. The United States as the lone superpower in the meantime, while seeking not to take sides in what is taking place in Asia although it does not agree with the Chinese posturing, wants to see a peaceful solution – at least that is what it says. These events are enough to make the world nervous as what could likely happen should relations between the states involved deteriorate even further.

There are many who would say that these global events mean absolutely nothing to small states such as what we have in the Caribbean. Once thought as having some geopolitical significance, some countries of this region were brought fully in the rivalry which existed prior to and even after the second world war. They were the locations for American bases which allowed for the staging of troops and other military installations in the event hostile powers came a calling. They also benefited after the war from enormous financial aid, technical assistance, trade preference arrangements and participation in multilateral economic programmes, all with one goal in mind – to ensure the political and economic environment was such that it did not give rise to Russian influence.

However, with the cold war having ended in 1990 or thereabout and the end to East West tensions, geopolitics as far as the Caribbean goes is no longer a drawing card for the US and other great powers in terms of their foreign policy making. The world was expected to settle down and the market was now the preferred option for economic policy making including in states that were once under communism. Small countries have their own battles to fight: how to cope with global economic changes, how to reposition themselves for greater economic take off once the current crisis fully abates; and how to deal with natural disasters and in particular Hurricanes, which do cause significant negative impact on the region.

With new tensions having surfaced it remains to be seen just how far they will go and who will be seeking to exploit small countries to woo them to the side of the protagonists. It has happened before and could be so again. Interesting times are ahead and, who knows, geopolitics could again hold significance.

Always be at the ready

When it comes to being prepared, one can never be too thorough or too early. Therefore, though the month of June signals the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, it would be wise for people to start taking stock of their vulnerabilities and apparent risks and make the appropriate adjustments right now.

Leading by example is the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which has been hard at work from as early as March in keeping the public up to date on its improved plans for handling regional disasters. So far we have heard of a new ten-year strategy and a greater focus on country-specific plans, all made more effective through a $20 million grant, as well as plans for a new multi-purpose complex in Barbados, which will comprise a training facility, the Regional Coordinating Centre, warehouse and the Agency’s headquarters.

Yet the workload for CDEMA can be considerably lessened, as can the severity of the impact of storms and hurricanes, if individuals made a greater effort to safeguard their homes, businesses, personal property and, most of all, their lives. The severity of the risks faced by these types of weather systems should be acknowledged by all individuals year-round, not just between the months of June to November, since some preparations may take more time to implement than the weather allows.

Safeguarding one’s home, for instance, should always be at the forefront of one’s mind, so instead of relying on last minute measures like tying down roofs or boarding up windows, consideration can be given even outside of the hurricane season to installing hurricane shutters to protect windows or hurricane straps to protect roofs. Going even further back, homes should be built to the correct safety standards and workers in the construction sector need to ensure that correct methods are employed during the building stage, so that it would become the norm and not the exception, for all homes to be built with hurricane resistance in mind.

Another area where many persons fall down, and which can, and should, be addressed prior to the start of June is the matter of insuring property. Home and business structures should be insured to cover any possible damage which can result from weather systems, either directly or indirectly – including damage caused by flooding and fire. While Barbadians have been spared the ravages of a serious hurricane in recent years, lessons can be learned from the many house fires which leave uninsured homeowners reeling from loss with little prospect of rebuilding.

Personal possessions too, should be protected. Private safes or safety deposit boxes at commercial banks can keep important documents like deeds, wills, or even jewellery in good condition and damage-free. After a storm or a hurricane, it is easier to pick up the pieces and move on if you do not have to worry about recovering the cost of lost possessions or damaged property.

In the end it all comes down to being as prepared as possible and in this the CDEMA has provided a good example. Grenadians and their Caribbean neighbours should take a leaf out of that organisation’s book and take hurricane preparedness more seriously. Traditionally, it has been routine to see hundreds of people lined up within hours of an approaching system to buy food, sheets of wood, or other emergency material. This habit must change. Wherever possible, emergency stock should be obtained beforehand and every precaution taken to prepare for any disaster. As Caribbean people, our actions should reflect more than a fleeting rush to ride out a storm; for us in the region, it should be a way of life.

Important missions

THE world is now engrossed in the suspense surrounding the abduction of over 200 school girls in Nigeria. Following closely on the heels of the mystery of missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, it is another major event in the international community that has implications across borders.

In comparing the two incidents, there are a few similarities, but more differences abound.

In the case of the missing flight, 227 passengers from 14 nations remain missing. Though criticised for its late start, official searches for the plane began hours after it was reported missing. And though suspicion was rampant that terrorists might have been involved, investigations so far have ruled out interference by anyone outside of the plane’s manifest.

Conversely, while a similar number of Nigerian schoolgirls remain missing, more are being abducted in isolated incidents, making this an on-going nightmare for families in that country. Furthermore, while the search for the missing flight took days to gain momentum, it has been nearly a month since the schoolgirls were taken with no rescue effort being attempted and, unlike the mysterious flight, there is reliable information as to the girls’ whereabouts, even if an exact location is not known. Finally, investigators are still trying to piece together exactly what happened during the flight and who was responsible and why, but the motive for the Nigerian abduction is clear. The militant Islamist group Boko Haram has laid claim to the atrocity with its leader Abubakar Shekau threatening on camera to sell the girls in the market or “give their hands in marriage because they are our slaves”.

In terms of the approach, the Malaysian government came in for a lot of heavy tongue-lashing due to their non-disclosure, inaccuracy and obscurity while dealing with the missing flight. Similarly, the Nigerian government is being blamed for its inaction and ineffectiveness in protecting its people against these militants. Both countries have accepted assistance from the international community, with the United States and France sending teams to Nigeria in the last few days to assist that government.

It is hoped that both these incidents can be resolved. Though the time lapse with Flight 370 most likely means that there will be no rescue, only recovery, for the sake of those families involved we are optimistic that the plane will still be located.

However, resolution in Nigeria will mean more than rescue of the nearly 300 girls. Resolution will mean the eradication of the militant group and building up and training the government’s forces to better defend themselves. The government’s military is currently being criticised severely. It may also call for the people of Nigeria to make tougher political choices to weed out corruption and vote in better representation.

Still, one of the biggest hurdles that must come crashing down is the thriving network for human trafficking in that part of the world. With the eyes of the world on the Boko Haram, it is shocking to think that they are still able to sell off scores of underaged females in the midst of this scrutiny. There is no fear on their part, or on the part of buyers, for reprisal. This alone would indicate that governments need to clampdown on human trafficking and be tougher with their restrictions and in imposing sentences for such actions.

In the meantime, we wait and watch the developments and pray for the best resolutions in both cases.

Shine bright

The diversity of the student body across the campuses of the University of the West Indies (UWI) reflects that of the Caribbean population itself. Therefore, notwithstanding the growing segment of students coming from outside of the region, Caribbean students alone provide the multicultural mixture that many universities around the world try to emulate.

The reason for this desire for diversity is simple. The student body on any university campus is the heart and soul of the institution. A rich and vibrant student life is highly desirable because it should translate into students who are engaged, conscious and contemplative – all the attributes that indicate that one is developing the advanced cognitive and analytical abilities that are the aim of higher education. Aside from the student body, the university is also comprised of its faculty, to whom students and the wider society look for learned and considered opinion on the varied areas of their study and expertise. Together, the students and faculty represent a special community within the national society, made so by virtue of their academic enlightenment.

Accordingly, it is expected that when the members of the university community open up their activities to the public, that it be such that guests can be enriched by their interaction with the university community. In this regard, we can find no fault with the faculty and administration of the University. This island’s social calendar is replete with lectures, showcases and seminars hosted by the University, where faculty members engage the public on a variety of socially relevant issues. We also note that students of the performing arts have made efforts to share their work with the wider community.

We would therefore appeal to those active faculty members and students alike to encourage their more reserved colleagues to join them in their public interactions. The more diverse the sources, the more robust any public debate can be.

What we would also like to see is for more members of the student body to embrace their role as leaders within society. Certainly, they are yet in the early stages of their path to higher education, but we believe that they have a certain responsibility to show themselves to be committed to this role. Over the years, the carnival at the Cave Hill campus has showcased the talents of UWI students in song, fashion design and several other creative outlets. It is disappointing that the diverse cultural expressions did not appear to have grown apace with the ‘jump up’ aspect of the carnival, which has moved from a small  on-campus activity to an event that takes place on public streets and is seen as the centrepiece of the festivities.

Of course, revelry has become big business, and we do not deny that the costumed bands are a creative outlet as well as an opportunity for entrepreneurial efforts. However, the end result is that one of the few times that the members of the public engage with UWI students as a unified body, the image that is left in their minds is one of revelry and in many cases, debauchery.

With the introduction of tuition fees at the Cave Hill campus, many persons are questioning the value of an education at the UWI. Students, just as much as the other members of the university community, play an important role in shaping the image of the university and influencing prospective students’ decisions to join that fraternity. We would wish for a student body that revels in its Caribbean identity and, yes, knows how to have a good time. Nonetheless, we would also wish that their most publicised and patronised events be those that give reassurance that the university remains a beacon, in all spheres.

Growth challenges

There is an answer out there for everything … and if not, someone is sure to soon discover or invent it.

Recently in the news there has been a continued focus on the region’s resistance – or lack thereof – to the effects of climate change, whether those be direct environmental impacts such as increased famine, hurricanes and seismic activity, or indirect socio-economic considerations such as food and water shortages.

Each group of factors should be areas of real concern for Grenada and the wider region, yet it is the view of many that decision makers are not responding in the necessary manner to ensure that our economies are best poised to withstand or at least cope with the challenges.

The challenges are not unique to the Caribbean. Indeed, the entire world is faced with having to grow more food with a changing resource base, for example. Factors such as soil loss, air pollution due to industrialisation, deforestation (and in some cases reforestation), migration or extinction of critical players within the eco-system and the invasion of plant and animal diseases, are all issues that many countries have to confront. What makes the small island states of the Caribbean at risk is the limited landmass and non-production of certain basic items which make them dependent on countries with a greater agricultural and manufacturing base.

Countries such as Barbados, as was pointed out recently by historian Dr. Karl Watson, have shown particularly vulnerabilities (dating as far back as the 17th century) because of a highly dense population which has meant, despite the view held by some, that it was never in a position to adequately and entirely feed its own people... at least when it comes through farming in the traditional sense.

According to numbers provided by Dr. Watson, the numbers of estates on the island dropped from around 500 in the immediate post-Emancipation years to 280 by 1942, with 81 156 acres under food production. Today, over 60 years later, approximately 18 000 of land is under cultivation.

Land that has been reforested can be cultivated once more, but the trend is not so possible when a large portion of those bread baskets have been converted to real estate. How does one seek to grow more food with limited land?

The Inter-American Insititute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA), in collaboration with other entities, has done extensive research and documentation in the area of soil-less agriculture; that is, growing food crops without soil. According to the literature, crops can still be grown without naturally occurring soil, as long as the basic requirements for optimal plant growth, such as air, moisture and nutrients, are provided. Soil-less technologies provide solutions for food production in areas where traditional soil-based production may be considered a significant threat to the sustainability of the soil or natural environment, or where there is an incapacity to meet production needs.

The main types of soil-less technologies being practised are hydroponics (where oxygenated and nutrient-enriched liquid is fed directly to the root base), areoponics (where nutrients for uptake are supplied through the surrounding atmosphere) and media culture (where soil is replaced with both organic and inorganic material ranging from foam and fiber to gravel, sawdust and sand).

The technologies mentioned above are not exhaustive and should be given greater consideration – not to be used exclusively – for adoption into the region’s farming practices.

As we opened in this discussion, there is seemingly a technological solution for every predicament. Sadly, the inclusion of technology to advance farming in the Caribbean is still glaringly inadequate, even to deal with basic production challenges. Meanwhile, other countries are advancing.

Reparations and some legal hurdles

IT is more than slightly ironic that regional leaders have retained the services of a British law firm to assist their efforts legally to gain reparation from as yet unnamed defendants for the consequences of the slave trade. Unless this retainer is on a contingency fee basis; that is, on the condition that there will be the payment of fees only in the event of a successful claim, then that British law firm is in a win-win situation so far as remuneration is concerned.

It is perhaps surprising that after nearly half a century of regional legal education that the leaders should have turned to a British firm for representation in this matter. But we have seen the same attitude manifested by some jurisdictions with regard to their reluctance to accede to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as their final appellate court. As it is with the CCJ, these states prefer, seemingly, to contribute financially without using the product of that monetary underwriting.

Nonetheless, the prospect of court action on this issue appears to have been further delayed with the recent decision at the CARICOM inter-sessional summit to approach the European states with a view to an amicable settlement of the matter.

This is a commendable move, especially in light of the arguable weaknesses surrounding any court action on the issue. While this is not meant to deny the moral force of an argument for reparations, we must remind the public proponents of this claim that a legal issue is not resolved solely on moral right, but rather on the application of strict principles of law in a jurisdiction and before a forum clothed with formal authority to hear the matter.

And while we do not intend to throw cold water on the legal claim, there are several hurdles that must be faced in the event that the proposed talks are unsuccessful. Among these is the issue of which court has jurisdiction to try this matter. For instance, the recent successful claims of the Kenyan Mau Mau fighters for compensation for their torture at the hands of the British was launched in the High Court in England. It is in serious dispute whether this tribunal or a regional one has any jurisdiction in a case brought against European states generally.

Another relevant issue is the identity of the proper claimants. While it is understandable that regional governments should lead the fight at this stage, we are not certain how the enslavement of the ancestors of a majority of the citizens of the region translates into a legal claim for reparations by the states themselves. If the claim were one for the act of enslavement of the transported Africans by the European powers, then an effective response would be that the states themselves suffered no harm and are thus not competent to maintain an action. On the other hand, if the claim is one for the deleterious consequences of this inhumanity, then, even if we accept that the regional governments should act as agents of the respective states, there may very well be some nice issues of causation to be determined, given that the events in question occurred nearly 200 years ago at latest.

Further, a significant aspect of the claim will be that a legal wrong was done to the claimants. Clearly, in the cases of the Mau Mau and other parties who have made successful claims, the issue of the wrongfulness of the offensive conduct in question was not seriously in issue. The principle that conduct is not to be treated as unlawful unless the law in existence at the time of its commission makes it so might present an insuperable hurdle in this context for the regional claim. It is globally accepted now that the slave trade constitutes a crime against humanity. The critical question is whether it was so then.

Bringing a strong case

Tourism officials across the Caribbean, and the UK allies, are to be congratulated for winning what seemed to be an impossible battle.

While delivering the 2014 Budget in the British House of Commons last week, Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, announced that changes will be made to the Air Passenger Duty (APD), which has been pilloried by the Caribbean tourism sector as being unduly onerous. Effective April 1, 2015, the APD will revert to a two-band system; Band A for short-haul flights of less than 2 000 miles from London and Band B for all long-haul flights over 2 000 miles from London.

The APD was structured in a four-band system that imposed a tax on flights from the UK based on the distance to the capital of the destination. This gave some US destinations a competitive advantage, such as Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, since it would attract a lower APD than a flight to Barbados in the Atlantic Ocean, given the location of the US capital of Washington D.C.

When the four-band APD was still at the proposal stage, this newspaper expressed concern over the impact it might have on travel to the Caribbean, and regional tourism officials were of a similar view. Accordingly, they submitted a proposal to the UK government shortly after the system was implemented in 2010, calling for a return to the two-band system. In the years that have followed, tourism officials and their allies in the international travel industry mounted a significant lobby against what they deemed an unfair tax that jeopardised the viability of the tourism sector, the lifeblood of many of the small island economies of the region.

Despite them being competing tourism destinations, the countries of the Caribbean know when banding together makes good sense. In addition, a favourable set of circumstances came together to help the Caribbean lobbyists’ in their quest. They found influential allies from within the UK itself – businesses such as UK airlines, travel agents and tour operators, members of the Caribbean Diaspora and even the British people themselves who would have grown attached to visiting the region and would have been most displeased with the steep charges added onto the cost of their usual holiday travel. Indeed, in citing the motivation for the APD restructuring, the Chancellor pointed out that the reform would make it more affordable for UK families to travel abroad.

The next big case the Caribbean seems bent on presenting to the UK is that of reparations for slavery. While this is more of a legal battle than a political one, public opinion will likely still play a role. In this instance, however, Caribbean officials are unlikely to find as many allies as they did on the APD issue. Indeed, recent Letters to the Editor of the London Times that were drawn to our attention show the average reader to be firmly against this route. The consensus was that it was unreasonable for modern Britons to pay compensation for their ancestors’ actions, with some letter writers at pains to point out that their predecessors were not of the planter class.

The Caribbean will certainly have a major fight on its hands, especially since some of its own are not entirely convinced of the strength of the case. Would it be too much to hope that fortune might again smile on countries in the region? That may just be wishful thinking for the proponents of reparations. However, the APD outcome may have given them some encouragement as to what can be achieved if they develop the right strategy.

Culture clash

Developing countries seeking to find their feet in the world’s family of nations must constantly grapple with defending their national sovereignty, held sacrosanct in international relations, and facing up to the realities of our modern world. In theory, the voice of every country carries equal weight. However, in practice, it is clear that those with superior economic – and usually also military – might are the ones who really call the shots. In other words, he who pays the piper calls the tune.

We were reminded of this adage as it relates to the ongoing international debate about same-sex marriage and rights based on sexual orientation. This continues to be a hot-button issue, not just between East and West, but also even within more liberal countries. Indeed, though from the outside one would largely classify Europe and North America as having a pro-gay climate, when one examines the legal rights and reality on the ground in many such countries, it remains quite varied. Nonetheless, there can be no denying that there is a greater acceptance of various sexual orientations and family structures in those parts of the world than in others such as Africa and the Caribbean.

Having recently implemented more stringent anti-gay legislation, the African country of Uganda this week defended its stance by rejecting sexual orientation as a fundamental human right as defined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This, despite the fact that this treaty is normally accepted as the standard for all member states of the United Nations.

Since Uganda passed the laws last month, several international donors have suspended aid funding to that country, a move the Ugandan president labelled as “bullying”. It brings to mind the comments made not too long ago by UK Prime Minister Cameron and US President Obama, which indicated that their governments would likely review its aid commitments to those countries which discriminated against persons based on sexual orientation. They too sparked accusations of trying to force their belief system down the throats of other countries with different cultures and values.

Face off

So where does national sovereignty stand in all this? Certainly, it must raise a country’s metaphorical hackles to have another appear to be wielding a big stick to ensure conformity, especially in a world where developing countries can find that whenever they appear to be catching up, the goal post is moved yet again. Indeed, as it relates to human rights, many of the laws that these countries are now being criticised for were inherited from a former coloniser, who having changed its outlook, seems to expect all others to fall in line forthwith.

But again, he who pays the piper calls the tune. Therefore, if developing countries are reliant on aid from more advanced countries, it cannot be altogether surprising when the latter group use this leverage to bring others over to their way of thinking.

We can only hope that the big stick approach does not have the negative effect of driving countries away from international fora which may be dominated by Western culture, resulting in a further splintering of the globe along hard and fast ideological lines. In this year 2014, A.D., conflict remains a feature of human civilisation, both within and without national boundaries. The current system is far from perfect, but it has come a long way. We hope to see it continue to evolve in a positive direction.

LIAT needs more support

Do they mean it this time? And where will the first set of action be taken once they have committed themselves to take the necessary action? These two questions relate to the promises by key personnel from LIAT, the Caribbean island-hopping airline, to take decisive action against those countries that continue to benefit from the airline, but who refuse to contribute to its survival.

It is a fact that the threat has been made several times in the past in an attempt to bring on board the other countries which have not been giving financial support to the airline. LIAT officials have reasoned that once they have the full support of more countries then that could ease many of the woes which the airline continues to face, and even placing it in a better position to do more.

That was all there was to it – a threat and no action – to force the hands of the others.

In the meantime, the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and more recently Dominica continued – we almost said on their merry way – in underwriting LIAT.

Officials of LIAT met in Barbados recently. It is reasonable to assume that they would have discussed the present situation with the carrier, including the process of fleet rationalisation and in a difficult economic environment.

Following the meeting in Barbados, Chairman of the LIAT, Dr. Jean Holder, said that management of the company had hoped to persuade countries to put in their money. He said that the route of persuasion has run its course and the company must now take what he referred as decisive action.

Such comments seem to indicate that the airline’s management is serious and will begin to put in motion plans deemed as appropriate for the matter at hand.

In the past LIAT management personnel have said that there are a number of unprofitable routes in some destinations which call for urgent attention. That urgent attention meant either reducing the service or dropping it altogether.

Operating an airline is not the cheapest thing to do in the world. The first thing that confronts airline management is the cost of fuel. Such costs are exorbitant, a point that has repeatedly been hammered home by Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Chairman of the LIAT Shareholder governments and Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Genadines. In the battle over subsidies allegedly granted Caribbean Airlines, Dr. Gonsalves had made the point to the authorities in Trinidad and Tobago where Caribbean Airlines is owned, that the costs LIAT had to bear with respect to fuel had a significant effect on the operations. The playing field therefore was not levelled, where one carrier benefited from support and the other did not.

Another cost which is hampering LIAT is the declining rate of travel across the markets where the airline operates. As referred to earlier, LIAT operates some routes which could either be amalgamated or where the capacity can be reduced so as to save money.

These days most Caribbean governments served by LIAT are experiencing economic woes. When to this is added, the belt tightening measures many governments have instituted to correct economic imbalances, these two impact on travelling around the region.

Whatever action is taken by LIAT management, they are going to be criticised, however much they will be doing so in the best interest of the Caribbean.

A new generation of leaders, business

‘Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders’ – a popular phrase that is now more literal than ever. Never has it been more clear that the young minds in society will shine the brightest despite economic negativity. In this modern age, ease of communication has erased almost all barriers that once restricted progress among the young and inexperienced. Now with modern technology, anyone can research, reach out and begin to develop their dream job regardless of how niche their market may seem. Now more than ever the youth have the biggest platforms where their creativity can flourish, and that is with technology.

Politicians, business owners, and entrepreneurs all have facets of leadership that are shared in all of us. Of course it is the young people of today that will inevitably be guiding our country, so we are in brilliant hands. This is in fact the generation that grew up with television, Internet and smartphones. From early children are aware of the outside world not just through education at school, but through everyday modern devices. They are exposed to international news and industries now at a younger age than ever. It is important that we continue to nurture and accept the advantage technology has provided to our youth, but of course parents must monitor their children’s online activities.

The technology trend has long since expanded into the pillars of businesses. Using PCs and Macs in the workplace is the standard that has been established for over a decade, but now businesses have to go even further. With technology being so abundant, no longer can you wait for a customer to come to you, now you have to go to them. It is where the customers are that businesses must reach out to, and right now that is in technology. Smartphones, tablets and most importantly mobile ‘apps’ (applications) have exploded into the marketplace.

Untapped Grenadian markets are plentiful and waiting to be utilised. We implore Grenadians to continue to seek out these existing markets and create new ones as well. It can only contribute to growing our culture and international presence.

Leaders that are young at heart despite their age also stand to benefit the most. With constantly evolving business structures and practices, it is those who are nimble enough to make calculated risks that stay atop of the totem pole. One can only grow so much in their comfort zone, and the same goes for businesses – it is making smart moves against the grain that can pay out in big dividends. Keep in mind, however, that these are not just any risks, but calculated risks. Knowing how much you can gain or lose beforehand should be paramount in your decision of trying out a new business practice or marketing scheme. Fear of change should be antiquated because even in a heavy storm, the wind cannot break a tree that bends.

New frontiers

THE story of free video game app Flappy Bird makes for an interesting case study. Created in May 2013, the game rose to sudden and massive global popularity at the beginning of the year, topping the download charts in online app stores and in the process stirring up quite a bit of controversy. For the video game critics and reviewers, the simplicity of the game’s design and aim, as well as its high difficulty level meant the game did not score very highly with them in terms of quality. In fact some actively advised persons not to jump on the Flappy Bird bandwagon.

And yet, they did. More than 50 million times, actually.

With the boom in popularity coming some months after the game’s release, there was speculation that the game’s developer, Vietnamese Dong Nguyen, had used bots to artificially boost downloads and move his app up the charts, thus drawing it to the attention of the millions who access the app store.

His decision to remove the app from online stores only increased the mystery surrounding the success of the game, since he was reportedly earning US$50 000 a day from in-app advertising revenue. Nonetheless, Nguyen insisted that his decision was a response to the massive public scrutiny he was subjected to due to the popularity of the game, and not due to any legal diffculties. He has made and continues to makes other apps which remain available for download, he said.

One lesson that can be drawn from the Flappy Bird story is that despite all the research and trials that often go into product development, sometimes the simplest concepts can achieve great success – it is reported that it took Nguyen just two days to create Flappy Bird. How the app came to prominence among the millions that are available online remains a mystery, but what is a fact is that once it got the public’s attention it got very popular, very fast. It just goes to show that sometimes the appearance and reputation of popularity might be all that is needed to earn real popularity. This is something that all marketers around the world want to have happen to their products. Although very basic in design and concept, the game managed to tap into an instinctual part of the human psyche, making it very addictive. It seems players simply could not stand to be bested by such an apparently simple challenge.

The Flappy Bird story is also an excellent reminder of the opportunities that exist in software development, no matter where you are in the world. Job opportunities in this part of the world for highly skilled individuals have always been at a premium, hence the brain drain which hampers the development of our national economies. However, in a field such as software development, there are no borders.

Of course, not everyone can expect to repeat Nguyen’s success with Flappy Bird – perhaps not even the man himself! In business, the formula for success cannot be bottled and mass produced; timing, luck and a host of other factors must come together in the right combination. But while it is always encouraged to dream big, one should not do so at the risk of overlooking opportunities closer to home. One regional insurance company has had an app developed specifically for its clients and the Barbados Tourism Authority recently launched a downloadable island guide application. The market for these types of products indigenous to the region is yet to be fully explored.

The small island states of the Caribbean are said to have limited resources, but what some of them do have is extensive Internet access and mobile phone saturation. This provides an encouraging environment for the software development sector to flourish and it is hoped that seeds planted thus far in this field will eventually bear fruit in abundance.