Reflections on the SALISES 50-50 Conference

Friday August 24  marked the end of the SALISES 50-50 Conference: Critical Reflections in a Time of Uncertainty. The conference was the climax of work that began in 2009 by the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies. The conference sought to address the local, regional and internal challenges facing the Caribbean, reviewing and making suggestions to social policies as well as to critically assess post independence models for economic development.  


The  Honourable Dr. Peter Philips, Minister of Finance, Planning and the Public Service offered the keynote address on "Caribbean Independence: Past, Present and the Future - A Reckoning"   at the opening ceremony on Monday August 20. 

Other guest speakers included Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and former Director of the Pan American Health Organization Sir George Alleyne, the United Kingdom Member of Parliament of Jamaican descent  Diane Abbott, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Sir K. Dwight Venner, distinguished Professors Emerti of the University of the West Indies Norman Girvan and Selwyn Ryan and University Director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies and social historian Professor Verene Shepherd.  

The five day conference saw over nine panels each day offering insight in areas ranging from: women and entrepreneurship; crime and violence prevention and reduction;  cultural and social currencies; socio-economic dependencies and the path towards development; regionalism and the Caribbean; education and language; youth policy and education;  information technology communication and development; climate change and the environment and 

On Friday August 24 the Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, Prime Minister of Jamaica offered her remarks and congratulations to the conference organizer and  the closing address was delivered by the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Prime Minister Gonsalves spoke on "The Independence Experience 
of the OECS and Prospects for the Future." 

The sessions that I attended were inspiring, thought provoking and enlightening. However the most profound message that I take from the conference came from Prime Minister Gonsalves at the end of the conference where he reminded attendees that as a region the Caribbean must use its sovereignty and independence as its key assets for the benefit of its people. The masses who must be educated and enlightened so the voting populous are aware of the policies being undertaken and they must have a voice in matters relating to our own development. PM Gonsalves also spoke on the importance of regional integration and cooperation that extended beyond CARICOM and the OECS and it was important to negotiate and seek partnerships with nations that will benefit the people of the region.

 It is this regard that I believe we have set to fully recognize our true potential as 50 years have passed since Commonwealth independence in the Caribbean we still seek to have the same partners of development.  We are no being bold and innovative enough to seek new alliances as we move forward.  We have yet as a region to deal with key issues of development and true sustainability and cooperation.