THESE ARE SERIOUS TIMES – ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGES?
July 10, 2008
EDWARD HARRIS AT LARGE!
THESE ARE SERIOUS TIMES – ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGES?
The conference facilities in St. Lucia are very much in demand these days. The dialogue among various Government, NGOs and International Agencies are at a level never experienced before. Civil Society organizations have taken their rightful place at the negotiating table as Governments seek to ensure that the WTO experience is not repeated. Governments are now seeing the benefits of engaging civil society. When decisions that affect the people are made without engaging the people’s representative organizations, the Government will have to take full responsibility for the outcome whether good or bad.
The Economic Partnership Agreement currently being negotiated proves that there is a role for civil society to bring to the table the concerns of the people which in times past have been grossly ignored. Conferences and workshops until recently were referred to as talk shops, but these days are seen as necessary to inform and educate those persons who are assigned the task to lead. This is a period of activism where Civil Society Associations are pro active.
We are seeing positive results as the Governments of the region have decided to hold off the signing of the EPA agreement which was scheduled to take place on 23rd July, 2008 so that the grey areas within the Agreement could be revisited. Although in some quarters it is claimed that the Agreement negotiated with the Cariforum group which includes Caricom is better than the one negotiated by their African counterparts. While the Prime Ministers of Caricom have decided to send their negotiators back to the drawing board with a new chief negotiator – Ambassador Gill, the President of France has expressed dissatisfaction with the agreement that was negotiated with the African nations.
In the meantime, Sir Shridath Ramphal has warned that the response of region Governments to the EPA must be timely. It is not that the Agreement altogether is a bad one but there are some fundamental issues that if allowed to go unnoticed will come back to haunt us. We must get the EPA right the first time. The experience and understanding of the negotiators and their supporting agencies, including civil society organizations such as Caribbean Association for Research & Action (CAFRA) and Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) should make it possible for the negotiators to conclude a mutually beneficial EPA.
The Commonwealth Foundation in collaboration with CAFRA – St. Lucia hosted a conference at the Bay Gardens Resorts, Reduit Beach, July 8 – 10 with the theme, “The Implications of High Food and Energy Prices for Economic Managementâ€. The meeting drew participants from Africa, Asia, Pacific, Caribbean and from the Commonwealth Foundation. The workshop brought the concerns of civil society to the fore and will be taken on board for presentation to the 2008 Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for St, Lucia early October. Emotions ran high at the workshop as participants share the plight of their peoples and the callous way in which some of their governments deal with issues of governance and poverty.
Grenada has a new Government with a substantial majority. The people have spoken, we can only wish them well. The marriage has taken place and now it is for better or for worse.
Congratulations to Herb Black for a well deserved win. The new Soca Groovy Monarch was a winner all the way. I saw the crowd’s reaction on Sunday night at the Cultural Centre that I took notice of and felt that his time has come to be a King. This proves the point that persistency pays off. Never give up on your dream. Just stay with it.
Congratulations to the publishers of the Electronic Newsletter – Caribbean Business Report which was launched this week and to the promoters of www.stluciatunes.com We have begun to make serious use of the internet. It is time for a Conference on the Promoting Technology Based Businesses.
Here is my selected quote of the week:
SUCCESS IS THE RESULT OF WELL DIRECTED ENERGY!
The first rule of success, and one that supersedes all others,
is to have energy.
It’s important to know how to concentrate it.
Focus your energy on important matters
instead of frittering it away on meaningless things.
Nothing will add more power to your life
then concentrating all your energies
on a limited set of goals.
You must focus the full power of all you are
on what you have a burning desire to achieve
if you truly want to be successful.
Gather in your resources, rally all your faculties,
marshal all your energies, focus all your capacities
upon attaining your objectives.
You must be single minded, and drive for the things
you have decided upon.
The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.
Copyright 2008 www.yourdailymotivation.com
We are living in serious times and our leaders must be conscious of the tasks that are entrusted to them and do the best they can to deliver on their promise to always act in the best interest of the people.
Have a Great Carnival Season!
“Keep the Faith, God is in Charge, Dream Big and Expect Miracles everyday!
Edward Harris
Biblicist, Freelance Journalist, Author, Business & PR Consultant, Realtor, Sales & Marketing Specialist, Networker, Private Sector Advocate, Motivational Speaker
Email: eaharrisdestiny@gmail.com
Websites: http://www.stluciasimplybeautiful.com http://www.stluciarealtors.com