Yet Trump is in no position to order US companies to invest in the Caribbean-he cannot even do that in the US itself. (Holness appears to be confusing a “stronger relationship” with a relationship of strength.) Holness’ main concern appeared to be the promise of US investments, saying that he hoped it was “not just talk” but that there would be “instrumental action”. As for Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, he spoke of being pleased with his meeting with Trump, saying that Trump, “wants to encourage and promote a stronger relationship with the region”. Reporting on these events, the Jamaica Observer instead backed CARICOM’s approach to the Venezuelan crisis, reaffirming the value of the UN Charter. Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson SmithĪmong those in attendance, Jamaica recently announced the closure of its embassy in Venezuela, despite the parliamentary opposition in Kingston voicing serious criticisms. These countries, “have all either criticized Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, or recognized Juan Guaido as the country’s rightful leader”. Trump thus met with St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina, Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Haiti President Jovenel Moise, and Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. What Trump did was to invite a small, select group of Caribbean leaders-those belonging to the Lima Group (standing outside of any international body, because the Group supports regime change in violation of international law)-to visit him at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump has apparently resuscitated divide et impera, trying to not only pry some CARICOM members away from the main body by “ dangling investment” promises in front of their eyes, but also setting the stage for CARICOM members to turn on each other. Fundamental and basic principles of the UN Charter have thus been unilaterally shredded by the US. (That includes Canada, not that Canadians have bothered to take note.) Given Trump’s own stated belief that “ to the victor go the spoils,” and the US’ validation of the acquisition of territory by force-backing Israel’s claim to Syria’s Golan Heights-even respect for the territorial integrity of states has gone out the window. On the other side, Trump’s White House is not only pushing for regime change in Venezuela, Trump’s NSA, John Bolton, has stated repeatedly that the US intends to resurrect and impose the neocolonial and plainly imperialist Monroe Doctrine-claiming effective authority to rule the Western Hemisphere. It is thus the Caribbean’s voice that matters most right now.
Just as the US today seeks the overthrow of Venezuela’s government, tomorrow it could seek the overthrow of any other government in the Americas. Such a policy, pushed by the US’ regime change agenda, would have clearly served to undermine the authority of the elected government of President Nicolás Maduro, while legitimating foreign intervention. The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), mostly made up of Anglophone Caribbean states, decisively stood up for non-intervention in the internal affairs of states by going against the push to recognize the illegitimate and illegal claim to power by Juán Guaidó in Venezuela.
It’s a simple matter, even if one might lose oneself in the various details, names, places, and dates.
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