Polack Post: Caribbean Disunity – The Empty CARICOM
By Peter Polack
Peter Polack
A major USA news outlet has stated that Trinidad and Tobago was in full support of the Trump administration position on Venezuela and their associated activities such as targeted assassinations. This is unsurprising as the Trinidadian leader has been promoting her allegiance to the new USA for some time.
The surprise is that Guyana has not come forward in the same vein given their bad relations with Venezuela and that country’s design on the oil rich land of Guyana. Perhaps the recent step to extradite a political leader to America is a paean in that regard. The renowned Guyanese bar may have their say yet.
CARICOM cannot have been said to be bellicose in the response to Venezuelan threats against one of their members, perhaps even loyal. No despatch of a joint task force to the Guyana border nor unified and regular diplomatic or political activities to unequivocally support one of their beleaguered brethren.
You reap what you sow.
So now some eyes are askance at the Trinidadian position but if the full truth be known, many of the selfsame choir of quiet would like to join in that repertoire. That thought by some Caribbean leaders is probably hindered by vigorous and free media, outspoken and powerful opposition, also many Caribbean populations simply refusing to accept the new American world paradigm.
The people of New York have also displayed their aversion to the new Trump order.
So what now?
CARICOM can stand together against the greatest threat to ever present itself to what has been a long standing and useful union or continue the charades of silence. Mia Mottley can either call for more unity or seek support for sanctions.
If Trinidad and Guyana wish to align themselves with a temporary and far off group given to excessive views then they should resign from CARICOM and go.
The USA election is three years away.
CARICOM is forever.
Notes
Peter Polack is a former criminal lawyer from the Cayman Islands for several decades. His books are The Last Hot Battle of the Cold War: South Africa vs. Cuba in the Angolan Civil War (2013), Jamaica, The Land of Film (2017) and Guerrilla Warfare: Kings of Revolution (2019). He was a contributor to Encyclopedia of Warfare (2013). His latest book is a compendium of Russian espionage activities with almost five hundred Soviet spies expelled from nearly 100 countries worldwide 1940-88.
His views are his own.
