PRESIDENT OF the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA), Captain Rawle Baddaloo, has emphasised the importance of multilateralism and consensus in the decision-making process of the CSA for maximum impact on the issues affecting the region.
Speaking at the opening of the CSA Mid-Year Conference in Miami, Florida, last week, Capt. Baddaloo explained that multilateralism in international politics meant that "a state pursues its interests and goals beyond its national borders, not alone, but in co-operation and coalition with other states." The two-day conference, which took place from May 19 to 20, involved more than 100 delegates from across the region, and dealt with a number of issues including maritime security.
Observing that today's world is highly interconnected with 'blurred national borders', he said this necessitated the adoption of the concept of multilateralism to effectively deal with the fast-paced and far-reaching nature of business issues and decisions.
He said the economic outlook for the Caribbean region demanded this approach to overcome difficulties, some of which directly and indirectly affect the region's prosperity. Among these, he cited the deleterious effects of the war in Iraq and the expectations of a terrorist backlash on Caribbean tourism; the prospect of a hike in the price of oil and its effect on the cost of production; the loss of margins of preference on critical export commodities such as sugar and bananas; negative advisories and blacklisting and the world economic slowdown.
The issues of trade, economic development and security are closely interconnected with the maritime industry, which the CSA represents, he said, citing the significance of the mid-year meeting in facilitating necessary dialogue and strategic planning. He highlighted the role of the CSA in facilitating maritime trade and mentioned the benefit of forming strategic alliance, pointing to CSA's most recent co-operation with the Association of the Caribbean States (ACS), as an example.
"This alliance in particular, if we harness it properly will provide the CSA with well-needed representation at the policymaking level. It will also provide information and knowledge on the dynamics of trade within the region. The ACS will also gain information and knowledge of the dynamics of the maritime industry," Captain Baddaloo said.
He said the CSA also had a responsibility to uphold the rules, and was playing its part in ensuring that its membership is well informed in the area of security. He said the critical issue of security also required a multilateral approach, as war, illicit drugs, arms and ammunition running and terrorism all have far-reaching social, economic and political effects in today's world. In addition, he mentioned that there has been a plethora of amendments and enhancements to security legislation, rules and regulations in the maritime industry in recent times.
The CSA President said the organisation was embracing an active multilateral approach in dealing with security issues and is working closely with the Maritime Security Council. This strategic alliance allows for the efficient exchange of information between the two organisations as well as consultation with the specialists in the field, he noted.
