British colonies look for Caricom membership.

In Barbados, a commission has ten months to submit proposals for a complete overhaul of its constitution that may well see the dumping of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as the island's Head of State.

by Wayne Lewis
Bridgtown, Barbados

Britain's dependent territories in the West Indies are invoking their Caribbean birthright more than ever before, taking bold steps in joining Caribbean Community (Caricom) institutions and generally lining up behind things regional as the end of the century nears. As early as next July's regional leaders' summit in Jamaica, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is very favored to become the 15th Caribbean Community member and this could trigger a domino effect involving Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

"We want to control more and more of our affairs," says BVI Chief Minister, Ralph O'Neil. "We have to get closer to the Caribbean. We are a part of the region and we feel it is high time," he told EXECUTIVE TIME recently. "Forget about whose passport we carry. We are part of the Caribbean," notes Reuben Meade, Chief Minister of the tiny eastern Caribbean island of Montserrat. Relations between Britain and its colonies have become somewhat strained in recent months over a number of sensitive political issues. Earlier this year, London publicly refused to recall its governor in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) following remarks he made about corruption and drug trafficking in the territories. Just when it seemed relations would have become even more strained, the day was saved as the governor's term expires next month and there is every indication a new one will come from London, almost immediately. Both the Opposition and Government party had been unusually united on their demands for the Governor's removal, calling his remarks an insult to the island.

Reaching out to the region the TCI used its associate membership status in the Community to ask for regional political support during the disagreement, but Caricom officials avoided a diplomatic showdown by remaining quiet. However, as the dust settles, the TCI indicated to the Caribbean Leaders Summit in Barbados last July that it is seriously considering applying for full Community Membership. O'Neil won approval to join the Community at the last meeting in July. However, the BVI will not be a common market member. That's because of its minimal trading links with other countries. It will be happy to play a role similar to that of the Bahamas, which is also not a common market member. The BVI is, however, a member of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and has a close working relationship with the University of the West Indies education system.

Montserrat was not pleased with the way the British government responded to its emergency situation when a volcano threatened the 39-square-mile island. "In the first six months of the crisis the response was particularly poor, but improved a lot. We are talking a lot more and they (Britain) are now prepared to meet at a high level on very short notice," noted Meade. "Things are definitely better," he says. "But we have to look to the future." He hinted at insensitivity, linked more to Britain ignoring the uniqueness of the Caribbean, rather than making a proper study of the needs of the volcano-threatened island. For example, London sent tents to be set up in the northern part of the island in the midst of the annual hurricane season. "You know what that means to an island, even if a hurricane is 700 miles away. This is not Europe and the solutions should not be European," observed Meade.
Peter Mathers, Britain's Deputy High Commissioner to Barbados says his Government remains open to countries which want to move towards independence. "Our position is, and has been for some time, that Britain will consider any request from any dependent territory that wishes to go that way," he says. "We are not pushing them either way." The only stipulation is that any independent constitution must guarantee fundamental rights and freedoms.

Waning British influence in the region is also manifesting itself in independent Barbados, long considered the "little Britain" of the Caribbean. A commission has eleven months to submit proposals for a complete overhaul of its constitution that may well see the dumping of Queen Elizabeth as the island's Head of State.
"The notion of her being Queen of somewhere else is fast catching on. No disrespect is meant here, but it is just the reality of the situation," says former Barbados Foreign Minister, Henry Forde. Forde is one of the leaders of the constitutional review team. He says the monarchy is under severe pressure at home and this is also undermining the level of respect it once held outside the United Kingdom.
"There is no mystical reverence from the current generation of Barbadians. They are not as excited as are some of the older folks."

Adding Government's weight to the monarchal debate, Deputy Prime Minister and current Foreign Minister, Billie Miller, said in Parliament last week she would like to see Barbados going into the 21st century "with a Barbadian as Head of State." Her remarks were broadcast across the region, via the Caribbean Broadcasting Union's (CBU) late night television news program. Even as the Barbados Commission is working, Montserrat's Chief Minister is also working with colleagues from other colonies, including Anguilla, towards getting closer ties to the Caribbean and participating more in regional life in general.

"Since 1992, we have come together to form a grouping of Chief Ministers, in order to discuss matters of common interest, including our relations with Britain," notes Meade. Montserrat has been a full member of Caricom from its inception 23 years ago and is encouraging the others to come on board, using the collective strength of the regional group to preach the virtues of membership, saying it will serve the micro states well, if and when they are ready to break from London.
"So that if we decide we want to disassociate ourselves from Britain, we already have our connections within the region. So it is preparation for Independence."

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