DIVERSITY FILLIP

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has called on CARICOM leaders to abandon the “unrealistic” idea of political uniformity and to reframe national differences as strategic assets that drive regional problem-solving rather than a signal of weakness within the regional bloc.

“For decades, an idealised narrative around Caribbean integration while well-intentioned, has framed, perhaps, unrealistic expectations within our respective populations. It has also, perhaps, unintentionally, diminished the genuine strengths of our existing arrangement – an association of independent states, bound, not by uniformity, but by sheer purpose, neutral regard, and a deep history of collaboration,” he said.

Holness, who was speaking Tuesday at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in St Kitts and Nevis, used the occasion to also call for a shift towards an economy of scale driven by technology instead of traditional trade.

He criticised regional bureaucracy, demanding that CARICOM institutions increase their speed to inspire confidence in global partners.

Further, he pressed for a move away from the belief that the Caribbean must speak with one voice, framing his position as a “spectrum of strategic options” and a tool for global leverage.

Holness argued that by allowing states to pursue different diplomatic paths, the region, as a whole, becomes more adaptable to a hostile global environment.

“CARICOM is not, and has never claimed to be, a political union. Our treaty does not mandate a singular foreign policy or a supranational authority. And because we are sovereign states, each accountable to our own electorates, we will, at times, assess risks differently, sequence priorities differently, or interpret geopolitical opportunities differently. That is not evidence of the weakness of our association. This is the natural expression of sovereign democracies, navigating an increasingly turbulent global environment,” said Holness.

He said that too often, differences in national perspectives are portrayed as fractures, threatening the regional bloc.

He said while there are circumstances in which one voice has worked for the region, variations in national perspectives should not be viewed as a liability to be feared.

“It is a resource to be harnessed. The measure of our integration should, therefore, not be uniformity of position but effectiveness of cooperation,” said Holness.

UNDERAPPRECIATED STRENGTH

He said the diversity of Caribbean economies, political traditions, development strategies, and governance approaches is one of CARICOM’s most underappreciated strengths, noting that each member state functioned as its own “laboratory of democracy” able to test policy innovations that others can study, refine, and adapt.

“This is not divergence. It is distributed regional problem solving,” he said, drawing on Jamaica’s approach to security.

He said for decades, the country has confronted levels of violence more severe and more persistent than elsewhere in the region. This, he said, caused the country to develop responses that are legislative, operational, community-based, and technological.

He said other CARICOM countries encountering emerging threats may learn from Jamaica.

Holness stressed that the region’s variability is not an obstacle to integration but is, in fact, integration that is practical, organic, and rooted in shared learning rather than a forced concept of uniformity.

“Still, even as sovereign states, with sometimes differing priorities, there are core challenges such as regional security that bind us together and demand deeper cooperation,” he said.

Holness said while member states’ approaches may differ, the collective commitment to the principle is shared that every member of CARICOM has the right to decide how best to defend its territory and maritime domain and that it is reasonable for them to expect the solidarity of every member state to that end.

“ … We are not monolithic. We are not always going to be one group, but we are aligned in critical areas that matter most for our people – security, resilience in all forms, economic opportunity, and global relevance. We are not peripheral. Our geography, youthful population, renewable energy potential, creative industries, and democratic traditions place us squarely within the strategic horizon of a rapidly changing world,” he said.

RENEWED VISION

He said a renewed vision for CARICOM must rest on three imperatives – a competitiveness agenda, institutional readiness, and nuanced diplomatic posture.

He said a competitiveness agenda anchored in logistics, connectivity, digital- and AI-enabled transformation, and clean energy, will allow regional economies to scale within the single market, even as each state advances its own development strategy.

Further, he said regional bodies must be capable of delivering on clear priorities with professionalism and continuity, inspiring confidence among global partners by reducing their bureaucracy and increasing their speed.

Additionally, he said the region must adopt a nuanced diplomatic posture that recognises diversity among member states not as fragmentation but as a spectrum of strategic options that collectively enhance the region’s leverage.

“Friends, if our economies are to scale, we must scale our ambitions. If our voice is to carry weight, we must speak with coherence, recognising that unity does not require uniformity. And if we are to secure the future of our people, we must embrace both our shared identity and our sovereign dynamism,” he said.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com