Caribbean-USA Heritage Month 2021 unfolds Hopeful Signs of Sustainable Partnership

​Several notable events in June  brought the curtains down on  Caribbean-American Heritage Month,  which was adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2005 to recognize the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States. The resolution was passed in the Senate in February, 2006 following which, President George H.W. Bush issued the proclamation in June 2006.  Since then, the White House has issued an annual Proclamation recognizing June as Caribbean-American Heritage Month. The Proclamation issued by President Biden for 2021,  has been a catalyst  for Caribbean action.  
 
Public Diplomacy Engagement Programme (PDEP)
 
The Washington DC  based  Caucus of CARICOM Ambassadors to the USA and OAS under chairperson,  H.E Anthony Phillip-Spencer,  Trinidad and Tobago Ambassador spearheaded an exciting  initiative  on International Day of the Tropics (June 29th). Under the theme,  Public Diplomacy Engagement Programme (PDEP) , the Caucus established programme tracks  for advancing US-Caribbean cooperation in an iterative process that takes advantage of the Biden’s administration stated commitments to the Region. This initiative is a direct response to the mandate from the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in February 2021.  In this regard,  the CARICOM Region is accustomed to establishing these partnerships with the US over the years with variable results  and sometimes disappointments about the under-achievements of their aspirational goals.  What is unique about the PDEP is that the 5 engagement tracks evolved out of  consultations between the  Caucus and the Caribbean Diaspora.  Its objectives for success are therefore based on  the reality that they converge with  the stated priorities of the new US administration.  
 
Among the more specific tracks are those that advocate for the following:

• An ambitious education and advocacy agenda for a  post COVID Caribbean Geopolitical outlook  in areas such as strategic security, energy efficiency, climate change adaptation, mitigation and resilience health geopolitics and multi dimensional disaster resilience. 


 

• Accelerating resilient recovery, inclusive growth and sustainable development placing emphasis on (a) development finance for building resilience and climate action; (b) digital transformation to facilitate robust economic growth anchored in predictable empirical data and measurable outcomes and (c) productivity by strengthening management capabilities and skills.  

 

• A One-Health Agenda that highlights food and nutrition safety, anti microbial resistance and an integrated approach to prevention and wellness.   

 

• enhancement of Caribbean integration processes in trade, foreign policy and aggressive approaches to financing for development 

 

• Collaborative platforms for advancing and promoting CARICOM stakeholders in the US including provision for partnerships, leveraging access and connections to achieve specific goals   

 
Fostering a Dynamic US/Caribbean Strategic Agenda
 
There is another initiative that is worthy of note.  The Institute of Caribbean Studies, whose founding President is Dr. Claire Nelson of Jamaican origin has presented a multi-year strategy for US-Caribbean relations.  Its programmes cover the same areas as the PDEP. Under the theme Fostering a Dynamic US/Caribbean Strategic Agenda  Green Paper April 2021, the draft document  provides some concrete  recommendations for partnerships  that include the private sector  and  civil  society in both US and the Caribbean.  It builds out a  multi-year strategy  based on the  recommendations of  US Public Law No 114-291 (HR 493) passed in 2016  intended  to foster US policy to increase engagement between the US and Caribbean. 
 
The The ICS Green Paper is most interesting from the view point that it identifies how COVID has dramatized the need for diversification of Caribbean economies and the role that agencies such as the Private Investment Corporation, the Inter American Foundation EXEM Bank, National Science Foundation and the Wilson Center can play.  It acknowledges the role of the CARICOM Consular corps in deepening  multilateral diplomacy and partnerships with agencies such as the Inter American Human Rights to achieve what it refers to as citizen security.  The interesting point of departure from the PDEP is the  emphasis  on  Citizen Diplomats  at the grass roots, advocating among their Congressional,  Senate and wide range of state  representatives for  the value of the Caribbean Sea and to champion the calls for vaccine equity and reducing violent crime.  The draft report  also places  emphasis on  the role of multilateral diplomacy of which the CARICOM Consular corps are pivotal to linking the Caribbean  Diaspora  through agencies like the Inter American Human Rights  to address common issue of equity and justice. 
 
That the ICS draft includes some base line information helps to make its case more poignantly.     
In relation to trade and Investment it places the  Caribbean Basin Recovery Act and the  Caribbean Trade Partnership in context.  It illustrates that  the US enjoys a trade surplus with CARICOM ranging from  US$ 3.24b and  US$ 4.17b; the  Caribbean purchases 75% of food and beverages from US while US purchases 25 % of the produce and services from the Caribbean; and  the Tax information Exchange Agreement with all Caribbean countries and migration of skilled labour from Caribbean to US provide the US with immeasurable  advantages.   ICS recommends the need for more balanced trading relations including   access of Caribbean  farmers and service producers to US markets that arguably would reduce migration from the Caribbean to US.
 
Building a Bridge of Hope 
 
Like the PDEP, ICS highlights the need to promote  equity due in opposition to the US’  impositions of constraints on  financial services and corresponding banking  which are  the second largest contributor to the GDP in Caribbean countries. The common call is for financial deregulation and digitization for  agro-business and enhancing food security.    But ICS is bolder in its advocacy for maintaining levels of H1 and H2 visas to  Caribbean citizens  and for the US  offering Diaspora bonds as tax breaks for remittances that contribute to  social investment programmes and  social safety nets for the Caribbean. 
 
 
The two initiatives in this blog  offer opportunities  for a  new beginning in US-Caribbean relationship. What is required is a formula  for   sustained dialogue among  the Caribbean Diaspora and the Caucus of Ambassadors; a  concerted effort for the initiatives of the Caucus and ICS to be fully discussed and reconciled;   and most importantly,  for CARICOM leadership, despite commitments to national sovereignty  to demonstrate  its collective commitment to  a common platform of engagement with the Caribbean Diaspora. Both the Caucus of Ambassadors and the ICS have offered some hope.  The question is can we marshall these initiatives to ensure that Caribbean-American Heritage Month truly unfolds as a bridge for  sustainable US – Caribbean  partnership.  
 
 
Eddie Greene