Introduction

This morning, I am particularly pleased and delighted to welcome the facilitators, participants and invited guests to this National Consultation on the CSME for civil society, which I strongly believe will become a watershed experience for future operations of the CSME. I take pride in welcoming all of you in particular those visiting from abroad to this important forum at this most propitious moment in time, a time when in the Caribbean some media and pundits looked askance at last week’s meeting of no less an auspicious gathering than a CARICOM Heads of Government, and were bold enough to say that our leaders were disconnected from the polity on this regional integration agenda.

I must extend a word of commendation to the organisers, namely: the CARICOM Secretariat, the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) and the Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs – here in St Kitts and Nevis - for arranging this most significant and august meeting, that hopefully will transform and enhance the views which are held about the CSME by people across this country and the Region.

Equally, I convey my profound appreciation to the European Development Fund for financing the cost of these consultations under the ambit of the Caribbean Integration Support Programme (CISP).

Wikipedia defines civil society as composed of the totality of voluntary civic and social organizations and intuitions that form the basis of functioning society, as opposed to the force-backed structures of a state and commercial institutions of the market. The London School of Economic tells us that civil societies are often populated by organizations such as charities, community groups, women organizations, faith based organizations, academia, cooperatives, trade unions, cultural groups and business associations.

It is interesting that this convention is about connecting with civil society, which means, bringing that broad and significant mass of population that is excluded from the state executive and profit making entities. It is timely because at all times, we must ensure on matters crucial for our survival, our development and our growth, our Government and people are at one accord, not necessarily on every detail, but on the broad principles and objectives of the integration project and journey.

Here in our Federation, we firmly acknowledge that civil society is not hindrance, but rather a most critical element in realizing good governance. Let me then reaffirm our faith in civil society.

It is certainly encouraging and heartening to witness this very wide and diverse representation of groupings within civil society. I believe that this broad spectrum participation is indicative of the serious concern and support that our people have of the future wellbeing of CARICOM.

After thirty seven years of integration under the umbrella of CARICOM, the regional integration movement finds itself once again at the cross roads of its existence, where some pundits are calling for a dismantling and dissolution of the grouping. This is reminiscent of the sad saga of 1962 when the West Indies Federation was summarily disbanded and jettisoned.

But, what emerged after the dissolution of the Federation was fragmentation, individual island independence for some, associated statehood with Britain for others and limited arrangements at regional cooperation. However, the yearning for Caribbean togetherness only grew stronger and shortly thereafter the English speaking Caribbean again re-established its desire to work in unison.

So now, at this juncture in our history, after several years of virtual aloofness from its people, precipitated by passiveness and disinterest on all sides, CARICOM has launched its Civil Society Project. This initiative is geared towards raising awareness within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), of the potential of Civil Society to contribute to the development agenda of Member States and the wider Caribbean Community.

Role of Civil Society in National Building

It is a firmly held tenet in many countries that the role of Civil Society is to engage and interact with the State and the Populace, in such a manner, as to make sure that government provides the highest possible level of good governance.

I believe that this notion holds equally well for St Kitts and Nevis and the rest of CARICOM. However, it must go beyond a notion and reveal itself as a practical and demonstrated truism that civil society does indeed actively and meaningfully pursue its role.

Unfortunately, this role is not fully exercised by civil society in a full frame, and in an ongoing way. Perhaps, the situation may be one whereby Civil Society is not properly constructed as a single body, and as such suffers from fragmentation.

Perhaps, even, it may be that the magnitude of the political polarisation, which exists within member states of the region, supersedes the importance of the collective responsibility of Civil Society.

Yet, perhaps it may be a case of docility on the part of Civil Society, which appears most times to only take its cue from developments or decisions, by Government, which may not appear to be in the best interests of one or a couple of its constituent parts.

I ask the rhetorical question, should not Civil Society be the guardian of Civil Society? Alas, the answer reverberates that, in a democracy, civil society is by far the greatest constituent part of the general society, and hence national preservation, in the collective sense, must be paramount to perceived self interest or disinterest.

In short Civil Society is fundamentally the most significant stakeholder in national and regional development, which obviously and pointedly includes the Caricom Single Market and Economy.

Relations between Government and Civil Society

This Government is acutely aware that the present world order has been based, for some time now, and continues to a large extent, broadly on the twin principles of globalisation and liberalisation. These standards are fuelled by increased and warlike competition which demands that all states, even micro ones like St Kitts and Nevis must demonstrate their capability and sagacity to succeed in the international arena.

It is against this backdrop that the Government, since its first day in office in 1995, has taken several measures to substantially expand and grow the economy of St Kitts and Nevis. In doing this, Government has always recognised and appreciated the need to involve the citizenry in its economic and social agenda.

The level of consultation between the Government and Civil Society has been quite good, but as in all spheres of human endeavour, there is definite room for improvements.

If one was to examine the record, it will show that Government has always encouraged a cooperative working partnership between the state and its citizens. Civil Society has been involved on a regular basis in national consultations on our economy, our national budget, and critical developments like VAT, and has opportunities to make input on legislation going to, and before, the Nation Assembly.

We believe that our people are our most important resource and that each individual is very important in, and to, the country’s development. The individual ought to play his or her part, as fully as possible, and Government has been highly supportive and facilitative of all social groupings.

Government and Civil Society entities have also engaged each other, in a spirit of mutual respect and national good, in forums dealing with matters of Electoral Reform, the Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Cariforum, Fishing, the Upsurge in Crime, the Draft Education Bill, Value Added Tax (VAT), Tourism, Agriculture, and just about every other issue of national significance.

The Way Forward

Obviously, there have been many surges and forays by Civil Society in various aspects of national, and to some extent regional, life. However, it is my considered opinion that the time has long come for us to fully mobilise Civil Society organisations at both the national and regional levels.

We should not let this time, this opportunity pass us by – nay, we cannot let it pass by, or else we will be shooting our region, and hence ourselves, in the legs.

It was our great and revered leader of this country, the late Right Excellent Sir Robert L Bradshaw who said, of the defunct West Indies Federation which he served as its only Minister of Finance, that Caribbean people treated the Federation in a manner reminiscent of a cow, that after having been milked, she then kicked down the pail, and its content of milk was destroyed.

I submit therefore that, despite the calls in some circles for the disintegration of CARICOM, we should, again in the words of Sir Robert Bradshaw, “pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and together build.”

I believe that it is our responsibility to build the CSME, in spite of its imperfections and drawbacks, for in so doing we will certainly correct the self same drawbacks. But even more so, I categorically suggest that the new building phase must be undertaken, in large measure, by Civil Society, because contrary to the present perception on the ground, Civil Society is the principal stakeholder in the national and regional developmental agenda.

No longer should there exist a feeling by any side that involvement by Civil Society in matters of governance and national or regional wellbeing must be construed as combative, inimical and confrontational. On the contrary, it should be seen by all players that this is a process of genuine partnership, between different actors and sectors that are all acting to achieve the common goal of a better and brighter future for our people.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I must point out that this is not the occasion to apportion blame, because we all will find out like Brutus, in the play Julius Caesar, where Cassius says to him, "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings." Civil Society must play its role fully and properly; it must act or it will be acted upon; it must adjust to the changing realities of good governance, be it in government, in the corporate sector or elsewhere in society, or else it will be adjusted through relegation into the halls of oblivion.

May God help us to emerge from this consultation, and the others throughout the region, as rejuvenated and inspired evangelists for CSME working under national and regional umbrellas of Civil Service Organisations - in a new culture of improved consultation, trust, inclusion and mutual respect. Forward on with our commitment to an ennobling Caribbean civilization, with all endeavouring and all achieving. God bless us all.

I thank you.

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org