But from time to time critics of the process questioned its non-evolutionary nature and wondered how main forum can be called a Summit of the "Americas"- with the absence of Cuba, one of the most important players in the hemisphere.
The summit process is administered by the SIRG made of one representative each from the countries represented at the OAS. The Canada summit in 2001, formally established a formal SIRG executive committee, comprising of a representative from each of the sub-regions, as well as the current, past and incoming Summit chairs. I served as Caricom's representative on this executive committee up to the end of 2003 when I departed from Washington.
Back in 2000, I had raised within the SIRG during the planning for the Canada summit, that the Summit of the Americas should be expanded, pointing out that the process should be evolutionary and not static. My suggestion then was that not only Cuba should be invited, but also the British, Dutch, French and American island-dependencies as observers. The case I presented was that most countries of the Americas had diplomatic and trade relations with Cuba, while the dependencies, especially within the Caribbean, had long historical, cultural and economic ties with the independent nations of that sub-region. The economies of Cuba and the dependent territories, I posited, would all be impacted in one way or the other by the FTAA on its establishment. However, my argument did not receive majority support and the cause was lost. But it certainly remains a worthwhile idea which should be explored for the evolution and expansion of the integration process in the Americas.Significantly, the FTAA which was the Summit's main agenda item from 1994 to 2005 did not earn any mention in Port of Spain, the city valiantly promoted by the Caricom governments to house the headquarters of the impending hemispheric free trade body. But the FTAA process stumbled heavily against some stiff opposition at the Argentina summit, and with absolutely no thought given to it at the fifth Summit, it is for all purpose now buried in the graveyard of meaningful ideas that could not be sustainably developed.
Dr. Odeen Ishmael
embguy@cantv.net
[The writer is Guyana's ambassador to Venezuela and the views expressed are solely his.]
http://www.vheadline.com/ishmael
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