ON the occasion of the inauguration of the CARICOM Secretariat on 19th February 2005, President Jagdeo of host country Guyana said, inter alia: “…..The impetus to integrate is merely the injunction of history, and CARICOM’S success will be manifest through the crucible of adversity.” AFC’s Raphael Trotman tabled a motion in the National Assembly last Thursday on the protection of Guyanese in the Caribbean community – a motion that was fully supported by Members sitting on the Government benches.

But this worthwhile motion was marred with dissension in the House, because the rhetoric was fraught with rancour.

We as a nation are lambasting heads of other nations for not sublimating individual nationalistic considerations and sacrificing the regional integration process.

And we do so while we squabble between ourselves on the issue of who cares more and on whose shoulders the responsibility (or blame) of migration rests.

Indisputably there is caring on both sides of the House about the fate of fellow Guyanese as they traverse and reside in other countries. This was made abundantly, pellucidly clear from the discourses presented by both sides; so why the animosity and vitriolic rhetoric that so disgusted the Speaker of the House that he was impelled to suspend the sitting?

How can we expect our leaders to productively and credibly engage heads of sovereign states if we cannot put our own House in order? (pun intended).

Leadership qualities are defined, not by one-upmanship and opportunistically scoring cheap political points at the expense of nationalism, especially when that nationalism is being threatened by external forces; but by a necessitous fructification of a joint policy in addressing regional, intra-regional and international issues.

Mr. Trotman’s motion spoke to a concern engaging the attention of all Guyanese, but he had to have been aware that umbrage would have been taken by the Government side on his vilification of the Head-of-state, which derailed the momentum of his own – until then, very poignant delivery, especially when he referenced his own father, Justice Donald Trotman, an advocate for peaceful conflict resolution.

Maturity in debate should take precedence in discourses that affect the nation’s welfare, and a fractious discussion can only ensue in friction, not a united approach to solve a crisis, such as the one precipitated by Barbados’ new immigration policy, but which has been simmering, ready to blow like a volcano, which is fundamentally threatening regional unity.

Every sovereign state in CARICOM is experiencing its own internal socio-economic problems, which have been exacerbated by the global recession, and each one is being forced to address these problems within parameters dictating its own survival.

That the primary reaction of leaders of individual nation-states would be to protect their own, whatever it takes, is a given.

It is up to Guyana to protect its own, even those traversing and residing in other countries, and it has become an imperative to convince other heads-of-states to treat our citizens with respect, but how is this possible if the leaders of this nation cannot treat each other with respect, thereby debasing our national image?

Immigration is inherent to the dynamic of the human condition and the blame-game is unworthy and not conducive to conciliatory measures in the nation and the wider sphere.

A fractured national image does not auger well for effective representation for the creation of an integrated framework within CARICOM.

Our President is the current chairman of CARICOM. He needs the support of his own people – AFC, PNC, et al, because whatever he achieves within this portfolio will redound to the benefit of all Guyanese, as well as the region at large.

In effect, it is the success of the President’s efforts while executing this mandate that will concretize the motion on the protection of Guyanese in the Caribbean community, which was tabled in Guyana’s august House by Mr. Raphael Trotman, and notably supported by every Member therein.

As our President said, “…CARICOM’s success will be manifest through the crucible of adversity.”

To this can be added: “….and through respect shown to each other across the divides – regional, international, and national.”