Size doesn’t matter: Small not a setback

Once again, nationals within the Caribbean region are being reminded that their mirror image, or perception of self, is most important.

On Sunday at the church service in observance of World Environment Day and the 20th Anniversary of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference at the Cathedral of St. Michael and All Angels in Barbados, the Very Rev. Dr. Frank Marshall, Dean of the Cathedral, called on these states in the Caribbean to assess what ‘small’ means to them in their eyes, not just individually, but collectively.
Recalling the first SIDS Conference held in Barbados in 1994, the Dean asked the region to build on its foundation, to forge ahead in “heightening co-operation”.

He called on the states “to have the faith to accept each other and to perceive that in joint collaboration, these states can together dream, embolden each other, conceive, assume a new-life experience, develop and anchor themselves more securely on earth’s rock”.

The Dean recommended, “[…] In the context of our global environment and the varying classifications of countries – developed, developing, underdeveloped, big and small – that the countries of our region need to commence or re-commence by being affirming of each other.”

Pushing for the region to move beyond insularity and further develop a proud identity as a region, he said, “[A] relationship with the wider global environment is a must, but even more vital is how we relate with our actual neighbourhood, as a people, with more around which we can unite and build.”

Dean Marshall therefore made an appeal for the islands in the region to invest in each other as Caribbean people in the interest of the nations, the region and future generations.

He said, “We need to be realistic about the true potential of our states, when desire and will are applied to the task. Treating our ‘smallness’ as a positive, we must selflessly commit to achieve our higher good and to build capacity.” (KG)