Potential of the Caribbean Diaspora

Keeping in line with the economic elements of the Caribbean Community [CARICOM], its remarkable how theirs and those of many African countries are almost a mirror image of each other. Both lose their most educated people to other countries that offer more lucrative opportunities or better infrastructure. Many Caribbean people move to either Canada, the US or the UK. They speak English and with their ‘exotic’ island aspects, many find the lives their parents and their relatives hope for them. However, therein lies a problem: How can we expect the Caribbean countries to grow and develop if many of their best and brightest leave? Its actually the same quandary most of Africa finds itself: those who would be effective public managers do not offer themselves for public office and leave ‘these’ things for others. How can we expect Barbados to reduce its overall debt if those who’d be expected to do this efficiently left the island and now live lives of luxury abroad? It, ostensibly, feels like an editorial on brain drain is warranted. Conversely, while the Caribbean grapples with its issues, it seems as though there is a band aid (no pun on ‘aid’ intended) for the state of affairs: An Enhanced Diaspora.

This is almost a call to arms and a suggestion that the fate of the Caribbean, and maybe even that of Africa as a whole collectively lies in the warm arms of their respective Diasporas. Countries like Jamaica, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Mexico [technically an honorary member of CARICOM] now have excellent Diaspora outreach units. Interestingly, although it is not part of the community, Cuba’s Diaspora is actually compared to the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). A community exemplar, David Jessop calls the Diaspora ‘an army already in the field that, if suitably mobilized and informed, can change policy.’ This army also bears economic muscle through investments at home and from those that it trades with.

There are two pint sized points to this: First, the Diaspora might be a puny excuse for the last legitimate crusader for the economic liberation of their respective people – but they can be a crusader, indeed. Secondly, the Caribbean Community is already taking advantage of their sheer numbers to start the process of influencing policy in the countries that determine their economic fate. And let us not be blind to the fact that the West plays the piper role ever so incessantly and eloquently. They set the rules not because they have the financial and economic or military muscle but because their markets are hungry for products. Unfortunately, American and Canadian consumers ‘miss’ out on excellent and organic products from the Caribbean and Africa because these two communities either do not have the political will to ensure resources to deliver products to the greatest market on earth, or even worse, have failed to change the impression that products from these parts of the world can compete with and ‘defeat’ those from Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Or it could be a case of these two elements playing on each other. How can you explain sheer poverty in Haiti and yet there is potential for them to be the epitome of progressive extraction economic partners? Say what you will about the evils of producing primary products and how unfair it is to buy cheap primary goods and then sell processed goods expensively. At the end of the day, a rising tide of demand for copper lifted Zambia just like sugar was good for Jamaica. Even those paltry sums mined from rubber and palm oil and cocoa from the Niger Delta might have improved the living standards of the area inhabitants. But again, primary vs. value added aspects are for another day. Now, we shall focus on what kind of tide the Diaspora can raise for the Caribbean and also for Africa.

Just as a quick example, Jamaica has a fully fledged website that ensures that the keen interest in the welfare and affairs of Jamaica and Jamaicans at home by the Diaspora abroad is kept alive. There is an outreach office on all sides of America, a few offices in Canada and even one in the UK. These offices are all proud of their ‘Rock’ as they affectionately refer to their island. African countries are starting to do the same thing and the African Diaspora may finally be able to influence legislation like the Africa Growth Opportunities Act [AGOA] when it comes up for renewal in 2015. The African nations are actually in a huff to ensure that the Third Country Provision [where unfinished products from other countries can be used in the finished textiles and apparel sent from that country] is renewed by the 112th U.S. Congress this September 2012. Again, the involvement of the Diaspora is more than timely to ensure the development of their respective home areas.

Why is the Diaspora important in the negotiation of these free trade agreements? For one, we shouldn’t discount the influence of constituencies on members of the U.S. Congress. If the Caribbean Diaspora wanted to influence a policy, all they’d have to do is get their communities in any part of the country to call their representatives. It does not matter if the same 100 people make phone calls. If the switch board registers a number of phone calls – and letters are sent to the representative or senator’s office, that will become a hot button issue. That is how AIPAC manages to be as powerful even if significant numbers of Jews are only in New Jersey and in Florida.

Secondly, let’s be succinct: Some of those who stay behind to manage public affairs in the home countries did not ever learn the importance of functioning systems and although some visit the West, most may admire the trains and roads but not connect the advantages of infrastructure to their own countries. Either way, there is some disconnect that can be effectively filled by the Diaspora who have lived ‘over there’ and now live ‘over here.’ The Diaspora want to go home more than anything else. What keeps them here is the amenities, luxuries and opportunities they are used to here. If, by some miracle, these three things were even faintly more abundant at home, there would be more than slightly fewer nurses in the geriatric homes.

To summarize, the Diaspora needs to get off its collective fat ass and start the process of influencing policy – policy that will affect their own people. Yes … They could take their collective wisdom garnered in the West back home. However, they might actually be more valuable if they stay in the West. If they miss home, social media has an app for that.

Dennis Matanda,
Editor, [email protected]