Caribbean unity boosts voice of Global South, says experts

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Unity and cooperation within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are essential to overcoming challenges and achieving regional sustainable development, thereby boosting the collective voice of Global South nations, said analysts and experts.

After three days of gatherings, the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM concluded Friday in Barbados, where member countries addressed key issues for the region such as financing, climate change, food security and foreign relations.

In the Caribbean, there are more reasons to unite than to separate, and the community must pool regional resources, not only because of their geographical proximity but also their historically shared ties, Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force Carlos Lovell told Xinhua.

"We now face common challenges, such as transnational organized crime. It is more effective to share solutions to combat common threats, with the aim of ensuring a more stable and prosperous environment for all," said the brigadier.

Echoing Lovell, Latrae Rahming, director of Communications at the Office of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, said that given the uncertain global landscape, Caribbean unity serves as a vital source of strength.

"One of CARICOM's greatest achievements is its unified stance on critical issues such as climate change, trade and international security. By coordinating foreign policy, it ensures that small island nations have a stronger collective voice on the global stage, allowing them to effectively defend their economic and environmental interests," he said.

Political scientist Jaime Tamayo from the University of Guadalajara in Mexico reflected on the legacy of the Caribbean's historical past.

"To the extent that these countries assume an anti-colonialist consciousness and a deeper understanding of their history, they become key players in the international arena. They not only demand historical justice but also seek greater economic, political and social integration and development," the expert said.

"CARICOM is an important tool in the search for a more just international order," he added.

Bu Shaohua, research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, recalled that in 2013, Caribbean countries created the CARICOM Reparations Commission to spearhead a global movement advocating for restorative justice.

"For many Caribbean countries, reparations not only seek to have the former colonial powers help overcome the underdevelopment caused by colonialism, but also to promote international justice, essentially reflecting the desire of the countries of the South for justice in development," said the expert.

Since its establishment in 1973 by the prime ministers of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Guyana, CARICOM has expanded its membership and solidified its role as a key organization for regional cooperation, said Wang Peng, research fellow at the Institute of Latin American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"The unity and cooperation in the Caribbean is a clear symbol of the continued awakening of the Global South and the increased strengthening of the consciousness of independence and sovereignty," said Wang. ■