Caribbean leaders in both political and civil society need to closely examine whether our concerns are taken seriously by international agencies and organizations, or whether we are marginalized because of our smallness and the continued grouping of the region with Latin America.
This grouping must cause concern for small developing states such as ours, because the struggle to mobilize funding for many of the social programs in the region is hinged on the ability of the region to put forward its case to the international communities.
Although we might be in proximity of Latin America, our cultures are vastly different from each other, and there are unique situations that warrant different and separate approaches. The disbursement of funds from international agencies cannot be based on a “one size fits all” model.
What might work in Latin America does not mean the same thing will apply to the Caribbean.
It is disheartening to hear that in a certain country, the head of agencies that are funded by international agencies does not speak a word of English. She is from Latin America. This situation to me is a clear indication that (1) the international body does not believe in the ability of the persons in that country to do a good job, and (2) the region might not be forceful enough in presenting its case for greater involvement of its nationals in these international agencies.
In looking at the personnel composition of most of these agencies, I have found out that for the departments that deal with Latin America and the Caribbean, most are from Latin America.
It is all well and good to talk about being a “global village,” but if the region cannot be properly represented within these organizations, then I see a difficulty in us attracting the critical funding that the Caribbean needs to deal with and fashion its socioeconomic programs and be able to adequately compete on the global front.
Caribbean governments and civil society in the region may be making a case for funding and greater involvement, but how effective will the case be when the persons who are making the final decisions are not in tune with the reality of life in the Caribbean?
Here is a typical example of the disparity in funding allocations to the region. Four awards have been made through the Wellcome Trust’s £5 million initiative supporting population-based research in Latin America:
• Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil
• Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil
• Centro Centroamericano de Población, Universidad de Costa Rica
• Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of the West Indies.
Latin America’s population has tripled in only 50 years, which has resulted in a young but highly mobile populace. Significant public health successes (such as improved life expectancy at birth) have led to a “health transition”—that is, the main causes of death and disease have shifted from infectious to non-communicable diseases (e.g., diabetes, which is one of the most serious health problems in Latin America).
The Latin American major awards span many areas of concern to public health arising from shifts in population structure, lifestyle and behavior patterns. The region offers an excellent science base to address these competing challenges for scarce public health resources. Collaborations between institutions and academic disciplines will strengthen the capacity for research, which can provide an evidence base for public health policy.
Because our historical evolution and the cultural influences we have been exposed to are quite different from those of our Latin American neighbors, and it is really a no-brainer that there are sociological differences involved, the way they deal with social issues are totally different from the way Caribbean people handle things.
What we need is for the political and civil leaders in the Caribbean to start a serious campaign to ensure that the programming of these international agencies do not bundle us with Latin America, but rather treat us as a separate bloc.
There needs to be serious representation for Caribbean nationals. And there are quite enough competent persons from our region who have been involved in the sociopolitical/socioeconomic development of the Caribbean who can bring better insight to the current programming that is in place for the Caribbean, with the emphasis being the Caribbean and its uniqueness. These Caribbean professionals must be given the opportunities of employment within these agencies, because it is only a Caribbean woman/man who truly understands the social dynamics of the region.
What we are faced with, as far as I am concerned, is a subtle sidelining from these agencies when they have us unequally represented on or working within these bodies.
Although we might be present at international meetings and although we make interventions, at the end of the day if we do not have officers within those organizations and agencies that are intimate with the needs of the Caribbean, we will always be struggling for the scraps, and at the end of the day there will be little, if any, true social development among the Caribbean people.
