Source: Caribbean360.com
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, March 03, 2008
A political union involving four southern Caribbean states is up for consideration, and one of the leaders involved in the possible integration has indicated that a study to determine whether the move is possible will first be undertaken.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves said he was looking forward to a union with fellow Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and possibly St. Lucia. Speaking to members of the press at the end of a two-day visit to the twin-island republic over the weekend, Mr Gonslaves noted that any political union between countries must be structured in some formal institutional arrangements, and indicated that former St. Lucia prime minister Dr. Vaughan Lewis, and Trinidadian diplomat Dr. Cuthbert Joseph will be approached to carry out a study on the matter.
"All of us know we cannot continue the way in which we have been going, but yet we don't want to think outside the boundaries of our individual sea and landscape. It is as though we believe we are immune to all the social laws of history," the Vincentian leader said. "For my part, the words political union are not bad words."
Meantime, Trinidad's Prime Minister Patrick Manning said his country stood firm on its position that greater unity is a must for the Caribbean region. He said a political union was therefore welcomed.
"We welcome political integration in the Caribbean and we make ourselves available for discussions on this matter and we will be part of any discussions that will advance that course," he said.
"As it now stands the promising movement that is emerging in the Caribbean is a movement in the southern Caribbean involving Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and hopefully St. Lucia and it will be to that cause of integration in respect of which these four countries are discussing that we will discuss our efforts."
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